Guwahati (Assam): The 14th ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 grandly commenced on Tuesday at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium. The opening ceremony, held before the first match of this tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, deeply moved the entire nation.
SPORTS NEWS: The 14th ICC Women's ODI World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, got off to a splendid start on Tuesday at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium. During the match played between India and Sri Lanka, a tribute was paid to Assam's renowned singer and the 'Soul of Assam', Zubeen Garg, who had recently passed away.
During the break after the first innings, renowned Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal gave a spectacular 13-minute performance in front of approximately 25,000 spectators, entirely dedicated to Zubeen. During this performance, Shreya sang several of Zubeen's famous songs, including his popular track ‘Mayabini Ratir’, and also presented the World Cup theme song ‘Bring It Home’.
Assam Emotional in Memory of Zubeen Garg
Assam's legendary singer Zubeen Garg, affectionately known as “Zubeen Da”, recently passed away in Singapore. His sudden demise sent a wave of grief not just across Assam but throughout India. Zubeen had delivered hit songs in Hindi, Assamese, and many other languages during his career, and was considered the “Soul” of Assam.
Following his passing, the Assam Cricket Association and the BCCI completely dedicated the opening ceremony in his name. This is why “Joy Zubeen Da” slogans resonated throughout the stadium on Tuesday, and the entire atmosphere was immersed in his memory.
Shreya Ghoshal's Emotional Performance
During the break of the first innings, renowned Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal delivered a spectacular 13-minute performance. In a stadium packed with approximately 25,000 spectators, she sang several songs dedicated to Zubeen Garg. The most emotional moment of her performance came when she sang Zubeen's famous Assamese song “Mayabini Ratir.” As the melody resonated, the entire stadium was filled with emotion. This was the same song Zubeen wished to be sung at his farewell, and it was also sung by the people of Assam during his final journey.
Furthermore, Shreya also sang the World Cup theme song “Bring It Home,” which made the opening ceremony even more memorable. Paying tribute to Zubeen Garg, the audience passionately and lovingly chanted “Zubeen Da.” His popularity and deep connection with the people were clearly evident as the entire stadium echoed with his name.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated during the ceremony, "This match is taking place on two significant occasions — first, after the demise of Zubeen Garg, and second, during the auspicious time of Durga Puja. We wanted this tournament to commence in the name of this son of the soil." Another special part of the opening ceremony was honoring former captains of the Indian women's cricket team.
These included Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Diana Edulji, Shantha Rangaswamy, Shubhangi Kulkarni, Purnima Rau, and Anju Jain. Additionally, former India Test and ODI player Sudha Shah was also given a special honor.
