When the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 begins on September 30, 2025, it will not only signal the start of the tournament’s 13th edition, but also mark a defining moment in India’s sporting journey.
Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the month-long event will showcase the best eight teams in the world, with matches spread across five venues and the final set for November 2. For India, this is more than a sporting spectacle it’s an opportunity to claim a first senior ICC title in front of home fans, a goal openly stated by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The occasion also arrives as women’s cricket experiences unprecedented global growth, with this edition set to be the last before the format expands to ten teams in 2029.
The competition will follow a round-robin and knockout structure. Every team faces each of the other seven once, with the top four moving to the semi-finals. India opens against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, followed by marquee fixtures such as the India-Pakistan clash on October 5 in Colombo, and high-profile encounters including India vs England (Oct 19) and Australia vs England (Oct 22).
Venues in Bengaluru, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Guwahati will share hosting duties in India, while Colombo will serve as Sri Lanka’s main centre. Political sensitivities are addressed by ensuring that all of Pakistan’s matches, including possible semi-finals or final, will be played exclusively in Colombo. This hybrid hosting model could become a blueprint for future tournaments involving nations with tense diplomatic ties.
Nine warm-up games, held from September 25–28 in Bengaluru and Colombo, will prepare teams for the main stage. While these fixtures won’t carry official status, they offer a first look at form and team combinations.
India’s Hosting Legacy
This is the fourth time India is hosting the Women’s World Cup, following editions in 1978, 1997, and 2013.
- 1978 – A pioneering but underfunded event, where India lost all matches and players endured logistical hardships, from shared kits to basic washing facilities.
- 1997 – Expanded to 11 teams, with India reaching the semi-finals in a tournament spread across 25 venues.
- 2013 – Marked by professional structures but disappointing results, as India exited in the group stage.
The contrast with 2025 is stark. Today’s players enjoy full-time contracts, advanced training, and the platform of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which has become a talent incubator and confidence builder for the national side.
India’s Campaign and Key Players
India arrives with high confidence, built on strong performances in recent series and the emergence of fearless young talent through the WPL. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead a side that includes batting star Smriti Mandhana, versatile all-rounder Deepti Sharma, and middle-order anchor Jemimah Rodrigues.
Rodrigues credits the WPL for fast-tracking players like Kranti Gaud, who impressed in England with pace and composure. Without long-time legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, this squad represents a true generational shift, aiming to finish the job that previous teams could not.
Main Contenders
Australia – The benchmark team in women’s cricket, holding seven titles, arrive as defending champions with proven match-winners Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, and Alyssa Healy.
England – Four-time winners and 2022 runners-up, powered by all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and world-class spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
South Africa – Semi-finalists in 2022, with captain Laura Wolvaardt and all-rounder Marizanne Kapp key to their campaign.
New Zealand – The White Ferns, led by Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, bring experience and a history of upsetting bigger teams.
Sri Lanka – Led by the explosive Chamari Athapaththu, will look to exploit familiar subcontinental conditions.
Pakistan & Bangladesh – Both qualified via the World Cup Qualifier and have individual match-winners like Fatima Sana (Pakistan) and Nigar Sultana Joty (Bangladesh).
Global broadcasters are ensuring unmatched visibility. Sky Sports holds exclusive UK/Ireland rights until 2031, while Amazon Prime Video will stream the tournament in Australia. In South Asia, Disney | Star leads coverage, with SuperSport in sub-Saharan Africa, Willow in North America, and Sky TV in New Zealand.
Such long-term, high-value deals underline the commercial growth of women’s cricket. These partnerships will not only boost revenues but also help the sport break further into mainstream sports culture.
The ICC Trophy Tour will visit all host cities and form part of a school legacy program, giving students the chance to see matches live. This initiative is designed to inspire participation at the grassroots and ensure the World Cup’s impact lasts beyond the final ball. For India, the potential cultural shift is significant. A home triumph could spark a surge in female cricket participation, encourage corporate investment, and strengthen the WPL as a feeder to the national team.
The Bigger Picture
This World Cup is a statement about where women’s cricket stands and where it is heading. From the resource-starved 1978 edition to a 2025 event with record-breaking crowd expectations, the journey reflects decades of resilience, institutional backing, and the professionalization of the women’s game. It also offers a blueprint for other nations: invest in a domestic league, align with global broadcasting strategies, and create structured pathways from junior to elite levels.
As the countdown to September 30 continues, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is shaping up to be a milestone for the sport and a potential turning point for Indian women’s cricket. The mix of historical significance, fierce competition, and strategic legacy programs ensures it will be remembered not just for the matches played, but for the long-term impact it leaves on the game.
If Harmanpreet Kaur’s side can lift the trophy, it would mark not just India’s first women’s ICC crown, but a symbolic victory for a sport that has fought to stand alongside its male counterpart and is now ready to lead its own era.
