Chamari Athapaththu may be seen in her latest ODI World Cup. Nobody understands the fear of the ticking clock than she does.
While Sri Lanka is preparing the host of the ladies ODI showpiece for the first time, Chamari hope that the home team can give fans added to cheer with a strong show.
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Captain: Chamari Athapaththu
Coach: Rumesh Ratnayake
Best toilet performance: Quarterfinals (1997)
ICC ranking: 6th
Since the last World Cup: 32 competitions | W – 11, L – 16, Nr – 4, Abandoned – 1
Sri Lanka Ladies Odi World Cup Squad
Chamari Athapaththu (Capt.), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Pium, Pium, Pium, Pium, Pium, Piumi, Pium,, Piumi, Piumi, Piumi, Piumi, Piumi, Piumi, Piumi Dasanayaka, Udeshika Pabodani, Malki Madara and Achini Kulasuriya.
Power
Sri Lanka's Batting has been given depth beyond Chamari Athapaththu. From June 2022 to August 2024, the top three – Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne – accounted for 47 percent of the runs of the team about 23 games. Samarawicrama has been particularly consistent, on average 48 this year, while the middle order of Nilakshika Silva and Kavisha Dilhari has offered stability. The shift from Hasini Perera to Opener has also stabilized the top.
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WEAKNESS
Despite the progress, the dominance of Athapaththu Stark remains: her 1,088 runs in the championship cycle of 2022-2015 more than doubled Samarawickrama's count. If Athapaththu falters, the batting can still pop under pressure. Moreover, several important players, including Gunaratne and Dilhari, are relatively inexperienced at major global events, a vulnerability that can exploit stronger teams.
POSSIBILITY
This team has demonstrated its ability to make higher sides upset, with nine victories in the cycle, including a record hunt against South Africa and a historic series of victory over New Zealand. Dilhari's turnout as an all-rounder, ending as the leading Wicket-Taker (25 Wickets on 26.24), Balans adds. This year, young Bowlers Dewmi Vihangi (11 Wickets) and Malki Madara (6) offer new unpredictability as a supplement to veteran Sugandika Kumari (9).
Sri Lankan cricketers Kavisha Dilhari, Inoka Ranaweera, Anushka Sanjewani and Sugandika Kumari will play an important role in playing in the Sri Lanka campaign. | Photocredit: AFP
Sri Lankan cricketers Kavisha Dilhari, Inoka Ranaweera, Anushka Sanjewani and Sugandika Kumari will play an important role in playing in the Sri Lanka campaign. | Photocredit: AFP
THREAT
After missing the 2022 edition, Sri Lanka is confronted with both rust and control. A resignation of seven months before the ODI-backkeer (2-0 series loss) against New Zealand has exposed vulnerability this year, while the attack still does not miss any persistent penetration against Elite Batting Line-ups. The combination of inexperience and a bowling unit that can fade under pressure makes the silk vulnerable to collapse.
Prediction
Sri Lanka comes in like a dangerous underdog. The team is better equipped with jumping disorders than to set up a persistent run. If the support of Athapaththu retains and the bowling unit continues to evolve, this could derail larger campaigns. But a deep push will depend on how well it reduces the exaggerated dependence on his veteran.
Published on September 24, 2025
