The Indian women’s cricket team experienced a memorable moment during their training session at the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday: an unexpected encounter with a snake.
This particular reptile, a non-venomous common rat snake known locally as “Garandiya,” is no stranger to the venue. It has made appearances during previous Lanka Premier League matches and a Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ODI in July, making it a somewhat familiar fixture.
A ground official reassured everyone, stating, “It’s not venomous. It doesn’t bite. It’s a Garandiya, just looking for rats.”
The greyish-brown snake was spotted gracefully moving along the stadium’s drains and stands as the Indian players were shifting from the central wicket to the nets area. Its presence sparked a wave of amusement among the Indian cricketers, support staff, and media, turning a routine practice into a light-hearted spectacle.
The team is currently in Sri Lanka, diligently preparing for their upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup match against arch-rivals Pakistan, scheduled for Sunday at the very same venue.
In related tournament news, Bangladesh recently secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their opening match. Chasing a target of 130, Bangladesh comfortably reached 131 for 3 in just 31.1 overs. Opener Rubya Haider led the charge with an unbeaten 54 runs, ably supported by Sobhana Mostary’s 24 not out. Earlier, Shorna Akter (3 wickets), Marufa Akter, and Nahida Akter (two wickets each) were instrumental in dismissing Pakistan for a mere 129 runs.
Meanwhile, in Guwahati, India began their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign with a decisive 59-run win against Sri Lanka in a rain-affected match. Sri Lanka, chasing a revised DLS target of 271, could only manage 211 runs. Inoka Ranaweera was a standout performer for Sri Lanka, taking four wickets. Deepti Sharma earned the Player of the Match award, while Amanjot Kaur was India’s top scorer.
This 13th edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup features eight teams, competing in a total of 28 round-robin matches across various venues in India and Colombo. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash remains a key fixture for fans and players alike.