Why This World Cup Matters
From 30 September to 2 November 2025, women’s ODI cricket takes centre stage across India and Sri Lanka. It is the 13th edition and the final World Cup with eight teams before expansion in 2029. A record prize pool, wider broadcast reach, and an all-female panel of match officials mark a step change for the sport. For official announcements and tournament context, see ICC’s tournament hub, in-depth numbers on ESPNcricinfo Women, and UK coverage on BBC Sport Cricket.
- Defending champions: Australia
- Field: Eight teams, single league table → top four to semi-finals
- Hosts: India and Sri Lanka (Pakistan league matches in Colombo)
The Tournament Format Explained
The World Cup uses a single round-robin league. Each side plays seven matches, two points for a win, one for a tie or no result. The top four advance to the semi-finals (1st vs 4th, 2nd vs 3rd) before the final on 2 November. The ICC’s format explainers and updates are published at icc-cricket.com/news.
- League phase: 8 teams, 7 matches each
- Points: Win 2, Tie/No Result 1, Loss 0
- Tiebreakers: Net Run Rate, then head-to-head, then ICC criteria
- Neutral venue note: Pakistan’s league matches are scheduled in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Venues Across India and Sri Lanka
India shares staging with Sri Lanka, where Colombo is set as neutral base for Pakistan’s fixtures. Final allocations are released by the ICC and local boards; monitor ICC, BCCI, and Sri Lanka Cricket.
| Venue | Country | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | India | ~132,000 | World’s largest cricket venue |
| Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | India | ~33,000 | Historic World Cup ground |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | India | ~40,000 | Batting-friendly surface |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | India | ~41,800 | Past ICC host |
| R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Sri Lanka | ~35,000 | Neutral venue for Pakistan fixtures |
Tournament Schedule at a Glance
League phase runs 30 September–26 October; semi-finals on 29–30 October; final on 2 November. Once released, the official match list appears at ICC matches. Live scores and ball-by-ball can be followed via ESPNcricinfo Live and Cricbuzz Live Scores. ICC’s schedule announcement is covered here: schedule unveiled.
- League phase: 30 Sep – 26 Oct 2025
- Semi-finals: 29 & 30 Oct 2025
- Final: 2 Nov 2025
Team-by-Team Guide
Squads evolve up to the first ball; refer to ICC Women’s teams hub and historical benchmarks in ESPNcricinfo StatsGuru.
Australia — The Benchmark
Seven-time champions and defending title holders. Australia remain the side to beat.
- Track record: Titles in 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2022
- Strengths: Batting depth, spin/pace balance, knockout mentality
- Weaknesses: Occasional complacency; spin plans can misfire on slow decks
- Key players: Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner
England — Always in the Mix
Four-time champions with elite spin and all-rounder depth.
- Track record: Titles in 1973, 1993, 2009, 2017
- Strengths: All-rounder depth, spin potency, middle-order stability
- Weaknesses: Top-order fragility in Asia; reliance on Sciver-Brunt
- Key players: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight
India — The Home Hope
Spin strength, batting flair, and massive home support make India contenders.
- Track record: Runners-up in 2005 and 2017; semi-finalists in 2022
- Strengths: Deep spin attack; explosive top order; home advantage
- Weaknesses: Inconsistency under pressure; injuries disrupting momentum
- Key players: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh
Team updates: BCCI India Women
South Africa — Rising Force
Powerful batting and pace with outstanding fielding. Consistent semi-final presence.
- Track record: ODI semi-finalists in 2022; T20 World Cup finalists in 2023
- Strengths: World-class top order; potent pace attack; athletic fielding
- Weaknesses: Limited spin depth; knockout nerves
- Key players: Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka
Team hub: NZC White Ferns
New Zealand — The White Ferns
Veterans mixed with exciting young talent. Inconsistency is the hurdle; upside is real.
- Track record: Champions in 2000; hosts in 2022
- Strengths: Devine/Kerr all-round punch; leadership experience
- Weaknesses: Reliance on core stars; limited spin options
- Key players: Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu
Team hub: NZC White Ferns
Pakistan — Playing Away from Home
All league matches in Colombo as neutral venue. Upsets possible if spinners control the middle overs.
- Track record: Yet to reach an ODI World Cup semi-final
- Strengths: Spin resources; improving batting intent
- Weaknesses: Middle-order fragility; limited knockout pedigree
- Key players: Nida Dar, Bismah Maroof, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali
Team hub: PCB Women
Sri Lanka — The Co-Hosts’ Chance
Passionate home support in Colombo and a genuine superstar opener make Sri Lanka dangerous.
- Track record: Consistent participants; chasing first semi-final
- Strengths: Spin in familiar conditions; Athapaththu’s explosiveness
- Weaknesses: Over-reliance on one batter; limited pace depth
- Key players: Chamari Athapaththu, Inoka Ranaweera, Harshitha Samarawickrama
Team hub: SLC Women
Bangladesh — Fighting Spirit
Lowest-ranked on paper but awkward to beat. Spin, discipline, and patience keep Bangladesh competitive.
- Track record: Debuted in 2013; one World Cup win so far (vs Pakistan 2022)
- Strengths: Spin resources; gritty defence of par totals
- Weaknesses: Fragile batting order; lack of strike pace
- Key players: Nigar Sultana, Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Nahida Akter
Team hub: BCB Women
Star Players to Watch
Player form guides and features are tracked at ESPNcricinfo Women and long-read pieces via BBC Sport Cricket.
- Alyssa Healy (AUS) — powerplay game-changer behind the stumps and with the bat
- Ellyse Perry (AUS) — balance personified; clutch overs and calm chases
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (ENG) — elite run-maker and strike bowler in one package
- Sophie Ecclestone (ENG) — left-arm spin reference point
- Smriti Mandhana (IND) — elegant, fast-scoring opener built for Asian conditions
- Harmanpreet Kaur (IND) — big-game hitter with ruthless finishing power
- Laura Wolvaardt (SA) — technique and tempo control from the top
- Marizanne Kapp (SA) — wickets up front, boundary hitting late
- Amelia Kerr (NZ) — dual-threat leg-spin and top-order runs
- Chamari Athapaththu (SL) — fearlessness that flips matches in a session
- Nida Dar (PAK) — leadership, off-spin control, lower-order punch
- Nigar Sultana (BAN) — anchor and organizer of Bangladesh’s innings
Tactical Trends in Women’s Cricket
- Spin dominance: Subcontinental surfaces reward control, drift, and subtle pace changes.
- Powerplay aggression: T20-style tempo at the top sets up par-busting totals.
- All-rounder value: Multi-skill players enable flexible batting orders and rotations.
- Death-overs craft: Yorkers and well-disguised slower balls decide close chases.
- Fitness & rotation: Heat and humidity demand squad depth and smart workloads.
- Mental edges: Hosts and favourites carry pressure; underdogs swing freer.
Historic Moments and Records
Most Successful Teams
- Australia — 7 titles (1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013, 2022)
- England — 4 titles (1973, 1993, 2009, 2017)
- New Zealand — 1 title (2000)
Iconic Performances
- Belinda Clark’s 229* in 1997 — first double century in women’s ODIs (ESPNcricinfo profile)
- Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171* vs Australia in the 2017 semi-final (ICC report)
- Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 148* in the 2022 final (match report)
Media, Sponsorship and Global Impact
Broadcast coverage and sponsorships reflect rapid growth. Rights and carriage vary by region; the ICC posts broadcast guidance at icc-cricket.com/news. For day-to-day media narratives and analysis, see BBC Sport Cricket and ESPNcricinfo Women.
- Broadcast reach: India (Star/Hotstar), UK (Sky Sports), Australia (local rightsholders), North America (Willow/digital)
- Sponsorship: Blue-chip partners signal mainstream momentum and expanding investment
- Symbolic milestones: All-female panel of match officials
- Prize pool: Record purse underlining the sport’s trajectory
- Growth: Expansion to 12 teams in 2029
Predictions: Who Will Lift the Trophy?
The Favourites
- Australia — unmatched depth and proven champions
- England — balance of youth and experience, spin threat
- India — home advantage and batting power
The Dark Horses
- South Africa — elite batting and pace attack, question marks on spin
- New Zealand — potential giant-killers if Kerr and Devine fire
| Projected Semi-finalists | Why |
|---|---|
| Australia | Winning DNA, all-round balance |
| England | Spin strength, versatile middle order |
| India | Home advantage, top-order firepower |
| South Africa | Pace potency, batting depth |
Predicted Final: Australia vs India
Pick to Win: Australia — eighth World Cup crown in sight
FAQ — ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
When does the Women’s World Cup 2025 start?
The tournament runs from 30 September to 2 November 2025. See the schedule at ICC matches.
Where will the matches be played?
India hosts most fixtures; Pakistan’s league matches are scheduled in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
How many teams are competing?
Eight: Australia, England, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh.
Who are the defending champions?
Australia, winners in 2022.
Which team has won the most Women’s World Cups?
Australia, with seven titles.
Final Word
The 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup arrives with scale, storylines, and a title race defined by nerve and skill. Stay aligned with official releases on icc-cricket.com, live data on ESPNcricinfo Live, and score services on Cricbuzz.