The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 is set to take place on October 5 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This marquee match is part of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The decision to hold the India vs Pakistan match at a neutral venue stems from the hybrid model that was adopted due to existing political tensions. This arrangement ensures that Pakistan will play all their World Cup matches in Colombo. Consequently, the Indian team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will travel to Colombo for this significant group-stage encounter.
The tournament will officially commence on September 30, with India facing Sri Lanka in the opening match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Defending champions Australia will begin their campaign against New Zealand on October 1 in Indore.
The Women's ODI World Cup 2025 will feature eight teams competing in a round-robin format. After the group stage, the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for October 29 and 30. The first semi-final will be held in either Guwahati or Colombo, depending on Pakistan's qualification status, while the second semi-final will take place in Bengaluru. The final is scheduled for November 2 and will be held in either Bengaluru or Colombo.
The matches will be held across five cities: Bengaluru, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Indore in India, and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Here's a look at India's likely fixtures: * September 30: vs Sri Lanka in Bengaluru * October 5: vs Pakistan in Colombo * October 9: vs South Africa in Visakhapatnam * October 12: vs Australia in Visakhapatnam * October 19: vs England in Indore * October 23: vs New Zealand in Guwahati * October 26: vs Bangladesh in Bengaluru
Other key matches in the tournament include Australia vs New Zealand on October 1 in Indore, Bangladesh vs Pakistan on October 2 in Colombo, and England vs South Africa on October 3 in Bengaluru.
The return to a round-robin format, last seen in 2017, ensures that each team will play each other once, increasing the competitiveness and excitement of the tournament. Cricket fans around the globe are eagerly awaiting this event.
