Four Indian venues, Colombo selected to host 2025 Women's ODI World Cup

Published - 03 Jun 2025, 10:51 IST | Updated - 03 Jun 2025, 11:32 IST

The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is all set to return to the subcontinent, with India and Sri Lanka confirmed as co-hosts for the global event scheduled from September 30 to November 2. The tournament will be played across five venues, four in India (Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam) and one in Sri Lanka (Colombo), making a return of the Women’s World Cup to Indian soil for the first time since 2013.

The International Cricket Council recently finalized the hosting details for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, along with preliminary fixtures for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England. India had long been picked to host the 50-over edition. However, considering the diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan, a hybrid model has been chosen to accommodate Pakistan’s participation, with all their matches being moved to a neutral venue in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This arrangement has been made after India's senior men's team played all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai due to their refusal to travel to Pakistan. In turn, Pakistan’s women’s team will now not travel to India but instead play in Colombo, including, potentially, a semi-final and the final if they qualify.

The tournament will feature eight teams, including India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. These teams will compete in a round-robin format involving 31 matches, with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals. Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is likely to host the opening match on September 30 and potentially the final on November 2, unless Pakistan reaches the final, and the game will be played at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

Meanwhile, the first semi-final is scheduled either in Guwahati or Colombo on October 29, and the second semi-final in Bengaluru on October 30. Notably, venues like Holkar Stadium (Indore) and ACA-VDCA Stadium (Visakhapatnam) will be returning to women’s cricket after several years. While some, like Holkar, will be hosting women’s internationals for the first time. Notably, New Chandigarh, originally considered as a potential final venue, was dropped, as the BCCI reportedly expressed concern about India possibly playing a final in a city where they have never played an international fixture.

Additionally, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England will have a final at Lord's on July 5 after starting on June 12 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Notably, on June 30 and July 2, The Oval will host the semi-finals. Twelve teams will compete in the event, more than in any of its other editions. The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup has already seen the qualification of England, Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the West Indies, and defending champions New Zealand. Next year, a qualifying tournament will confirm the final four teams.