The 13th ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has commenced, and Google is celebrating the kickoff with a special Doodle. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, began on September 30, 2025, and will run through November 2.
The opening match features India against Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM local time. According to reports, the opening match was originally scheduled for Bengaluru, but was moved due to unforeseen circumstances.
This year's World Cup marks the 13th edition of the 50-over tournament and will feature eight teams vying for the coveted title. All eight teams will compete against each other in a round-robin format. The top four teams will then proceed to the semi-finals, where the top-ranked team will face the fourth-ranked team, and the second and third-ranked teams will battle it out in the other semi-final match.
The Indian team, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, is aiming to make history in this year's World Cup. India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in a warm-up match, after a heavy defeat to England. Harmanpreet Kaur is leading her country for the first time in an ODI World Cup. The team includes players such as Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh. Smriti Mandhana has been in excellent form, having scored four ODI centuries this year.
Sri Lanka, the co-hosts, will rely on their star player Chamari Athapaththu to lead their challenge. The Sri Lanka squad includes players such as Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, and Harshitha Samarawickrama.
Cricket enthusiasts in India can watch the live telecast of the matches on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will also be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
Reigning champions Australia have historically dominated the Women's World Cup, with seven titles. England have won the title five times, while New Zealand has won once.
The Google Doodle commemorating the event highlights the growing global popularity of women's cricket. This year, Google also celebrated the Women's Premier League 2025 kickoff with a special cricket-themed Doodle on Valentine's Day. The Doodle featured two animated birds playing cricket and included an interactive "Mini Cup" game.
