EXPLAINER
From tournament structure and venues to standout players, here is a comprehensive overview of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Published On 29 Sep 2025
The spotlight will shine brightly on women’s cricket as eight nations vie for glory in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, hosted across India and Sri Lanka starting this Tuesday.
Australia enters the competition as the reigning champions, boasting an unmatched record of seven ODI World Cup titles. However, the home side India, riding a wave of strong performances, are widely tipped to end their long wait for a World Cup triumph on familiar soil.
Below is a detailed guide to everything you need to know about this prestigious tournament:
Schedule: Opening Match and Final Dates
The tournament kicks off with India taking on Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday, with the grand finale scheduled for Sunday, November 2.
Why Are Some Matches Held in Sri Lanka Despite India Hosting?
Although India is the official host nation, select matches involving Pakistan will be played in Sri Lanka. This arrangement stems from a diplomatic agreement facilitated by the ICC, allowing India and Pakistan to play their fixtures at neutral venues during tournaments hosted by either country.
This decision follows a prolonged hiatus of bilateral cricket between the two nations, lasting over a decade, and recent geopolitical tensions. For instance, the first semifinal is slated for Guwahati but will shift to Colombo if Pakistan advances to the last four.
Meanwhile, Navi Mumbai will host the second semifinal, earmarked for India’s semifinal clash if they qualify. The final’s venue may also be relocated to Colombo should Pakistan reach the championship match for the first time.
Tournament Venues
- Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, India
- Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, India
- Holkar Stadium, Indore, India
- Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, India
- R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Participating Teams and Qualification Routes
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- England
- India
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
India secured their spot as hosts, while Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka qualified through their top-five finishes in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. Bangladesh and Pakistan earned their places by finishing first and second in the World Cup Qualifier tournament.
Details on the India vs Pakistan Clash
The much-anticipated rivalry between India and Pakistan will unfold on Sunday at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
Historically, India has dominated this fixture, winning every ODI encounter since 2005, including their most recent victory at the 2022 World Cup in South Africa.
Tournament Format and Timeline
The competition’s group stage follows a round-robin format, running from September 30 to October 26.
The top four teams from this phase will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for October 29 and 30, with the final set for November 2.
The updated match schedule for #CWC25 is out now 🏆
All the action starts on 30 September! 🗓️
✍️: https://t.co/EArFubvvlg pic.twitter.com/yqYfPbHzbM
– ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) August 22, 2025
Top Contenders for the Title
- Australia: The Southern Stars remain the benchmark in women’s cricket, boasting seven ODI World Cup titles and six T20 World Cup championships. Led by Alyssa Healy, their squad features a blend of elite batters, bowlers, and all-rounders, making them the team to beat as they defend their crown won in South Africa.
- India: The host nation narrowly missed out on the trophy in 2017, falling to England in the final. With the tournament on home soil, India is determined to go one step further. Their lineup includes Smriti Mandhana, one of the world’s premier batters, alongside a strong supporting cast of bowlers and all-rounders. India has won 10 of their last 14 ODIs, including victories over higher-ranked teams.
Key Players to Follow
- Smriti Mandhana (India)
- Deepti Sharma (India)
- Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
- Sophie Ecclestone (England)
- Megan Schutt (Australia)
- Ellyse Perry (Australia)
- Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)
- Sidra Amin (Pakistan)
- Nahida Akter (Bangladesh)
Top Five Group Stage Fixtures to Watch
- India vs Pakistan – October 5 at 09:30 GMT
- India vs Australia – October 12 at 09:30 GMT
- India vs England – October 19 at 09:30 GMT
- Australia vs England – October 22 at 09:30 GMT
- Australia vs South Africa – October 25 at 09:30 GMT
Historical Winners of the Women’s World Cup
- 1973: England
- 1978: Australia
- 1982: Australia
- 1988: Australia
- 1993: England
- 1997: Australia
- 2000: New Zealand
- 2005: Australia
- 2009: England
- 2013: Australia
- 2017: England
- 2022: Australia
Prize Money Breakdown
- Total prize pool: $13.88 million
- Winners: $4.48 million
- Runners-up: $2.24 million
- Semifinalists (losing): $1.12 million each
- Fifth and sixth place: $700,000 each
- Seventh and eighth place: $280,000 each
How to Purchase Tickets
Tickets for all group-stage matches can be purchased through the official ICC ticketing platform, with prices starting as low as $1.
