Overview

• ICC Captains’ Day formally opened the event in a split launch, with four captains in Bengaluru and four joining from Colombo.
• Harmanpreet Kaur, set for her fifth ODI World Cup, said India will focus on enjoying their cricket and expressed hope they will not disappoint home fans.
• Hosts India enter with mixed form after a 1–2 home ODI series loss to Australia and a 152‑run warm‑up defeat to England.
• Defending champions Australia remain a leading contender, and captain Alyssa Healy said India in home conditions will be really tough to beat.
• India play Pakistan on October 5 in Colombo under the neutral‑venue arrangement, as the round‑robin unfolds across Guwahati, Indore, Navi Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Colombo.