As the ICC W World Cup 2025 edges closer, the warm-up fixtures on 27 September will serve as crucial rehearsals for the participating teams. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and New Zealand will use these matches to fine-tune their strategies, assess combinations, and get accustomed to conditions ahead of the tournament opener. Though these matches won’t affect the points table, the performances will set the tone for the competition.

Match 1: Bangladesh Women vs Sri Lanka Women 

• Time (IST): 3:00 PM
• Venue: Colombo Cricket Club Ground, Colombo

Last Match Performance & Context
Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be looking to sharpen their game. Sri Lanka Women come in with momentum after a string of strong ODI performances under captain Chamari Athapaththu, who has been in top form with the bat. Bangladesh Women have shown steady improvement, especially in spin-friendly conditions, and will aim to pull off an upset to boost their confidence before the main tournament.

Players to Watch

• Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (captain) for her aggressive batting, Inoka Ranaweera’s left-arm spin, and Sugandika Kumari’s control in the middle overs.

• Bangladesh: Fargana Hoque as a dependable top-order batter, Nigar Sultana Joty’s experience behind the stumps and middle-order stability, and Nahida Akter’s wicket-taking spin.

Match 2: India Women vs New Zealand Women 

• Time (IST): 3:00 PM
• Venue: BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru

Last Match Performance & Context
India Women will be keen to showcase their dominance in home conditions. With a mix of experienced players and young talent, they’ll want to test their bench strength before the World Cup starts. New Zealand Women arrive with a balanced side, blending powerful batting and versatile bowling, and will see this game as a chance to acclimatize to Indian pitches.

Players to Watch

• India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain) leading from the front, Smriti Mandhana’s flair at the top, Deepti Sharma’s all-round ability, and Radha Yadav’s spin threat.

• New Zealand: Sophie Devine’s all-round impact, Amelia Kerr’s leg-spin and middle-order batting, Jess Kerr’s new-ball bowling, and Suzie Bates’ experience at the top.

Conclusion

The warm-up fixtures on 27 September promise to be more than just practice games. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will battle for early momentum in Colombo, while India and New Zealand will measure each other’s strengths in Bengaluru. Captains will experiment with lineups, bowlers will look to find their rhythm, and batters will want to set the tone for the World Cup. Even without points on offer, these matches could provide the psychological edge that makes all the difference once the tournament begins.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-