The tournament, which kicked off on April 27, saw India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka duke it out in a double round-robin showdown at Colombo’s iconic R. Premadasa Stadium.
How the Tournament Shaped Up
This series was like a dress rehearsal for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup, and yes, it delivered! Every game was a proper One Day International (ODI), giving the teams a chance to fine-tune their strategies in high-pressure moments.
India owned the leaderboard, snagging 3 wins out of 4 matches for 6 points and a net run rate of 0.457. Sri Lanka held their own in second with 2 wins and 4 points, while South Africa struggled, managing just 1 win from their 4 games.
The Journey to the Final
India came out of the gate like champions, crushing Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in a rain-hit opener. They kept the good vibes going, fending off South Africa by 15 runs in their next match.
But Sri Lanka wasn’t about to let India have all the fun. In their second face-off, the hosts pulled off a jaw-dropping upset, handing India a rare ODI loss—only the third time Sri Lanka’s ever beaten them in this format.
That stumble woke India up. They regrouped, got their groove back, and powered their way into the final against Sri Lanka, ready to settle the score.
The Grand Finale
The May 11 final at R. Premadasa Stadium was India’s time to shine. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and decided to bat first, setting the stage for a run-fest.
India piled on a massive 342/7 in their 50 overs, thanks to Smriti Mandhana’s absolute masterclass of a century—116 runs off 101 balls. She was on fire, especially in the 30th over, smacking four boundaries in a row off Sri Lanka’s skipper Chamari Athapaththu.
Mandhana had some stellar teammates in her corner:
- Harleen Deol chipped in with 47 off 56 balls.
- Harmanpreet Kaur blasted 41 off 30.
- Jemimah Rodrigues added a quickfire 44 off 29.
Sri Lanka fought hard but couldn’t keep up. Chamari Athapaththu led with a gutsy 51 off 66, and Nilakshi de Silva added 48 off 58, but they were bowled out for 245 in 48.2 overs, falling 97 runs short.
Players Who Lit Up the Pitch
A few stars made this tournament unforgettable:
- Smriti Mandhana: Her century in the final was the stuff of dreams. She played smart, picked her moments, and raced to her hundred in just 92 balls.
- Sneh Rana: The series MVP, Rana was a bowling machine, grabbing 13 wickets overall. In the final, she ripped through Sri Lanka’s middle order with 4 wickets for 38 runs.
- Chamari Athapaththu: Sri Lanka’s captain was a rock, anchoring her team with a gritty half-century in the final.
Catching the Action Online
For fans who couldn’t cheer from the stands, there were tons of ways to stay glued to the matches. Indian TV didn’t air the series live, but the FanCode app and website had you covered with every ball. Fans worldwide could also stream the games on Sri Lanka Cricket’s YouTube channel.
If you wanted to spice things up, gaming platforms like Kheloexch were the place to be. The Kheloexch gaming platform is a hit with cricket fans who love guessing match outcomes. With the Kheloexch app download, you could play on everything from top run-scorers to game winners, all from your phone.
What’s Coming Up
India’s big win has them pumped for the World Cup, and they’re already eyeing their next challenge against England in June.
Cricket junkies can stay in the loop via the Kheloexch official website, which dishes out updates and gaming options. New fans can jump in with Kheloexch signup or Kheloexch register, while returning users can hop back in with Kheloexch login.
The Khelo Exchange platform keeps things smooth and fun, even when you’re using the Kheloexch official website or the Kheloexch360 mobile app. Both make it super easy to follow the action and join the women’s cricket buzz.
As women’s cricket keeps winning hearts, tournaments like this one show off the talent and fire of teams from the subcontinent and beyond. It’s all setting the stage for a Women’s Cricket World Cup that’s gonna be an absolutely electric Kheloexch app epic!