The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 is underway in India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2. This is the 13th edition of the tournament and features eight teams: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The tournament follows a round-robin format, where each team will play against every other team once. A total of 28 league matches will be played. The top four teams at the end of the group stage will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for October 29 and 30. The final match is slated for November 2.
Key Matches
Several matches are highly anticipated, including:
- India vs. Sri Lanka: September 30 in Guwahati.
- India vs. Pakistan: October 5 in Colombo.
- India vs. Australia: October 12.
- India vs. England: October 19.
- Australia vs. England: October 22.
- Australia vs. South Africa: October 25.
- India vs Bangladesh: October 26 in Bengaluru
Venues
The matches will be held across five 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.
If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals or final, those matches will be held in Colombo. Navi Mumbai will host the second semi-final, which will be India’s designated semi-final venue if they qualify.
India's Squad
India, who are hosting the event, are considered strong favorites to win the title. The India squad is as follows:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Smriti Mandhana (vc)
- Pratika Rawal
- Harleen Deol
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Richa Ghosh
- Uma Chetry
- Renuka Singh Thakur
- Deepti Sharma
- Sneh Rana
- Sree Charani
- Radha Yadav
- Amanjot Kaur
- Arundhati Reddy
- Kranti Gaud
Other Teams
Australia is the defending champion and has won the World Cup a record seven times. Other strong contenders include England, which has won the title five times, and New Zealand.
Squads for other teams are:
- Australia: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
- Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Farzana Haque, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Nishita Akter Nishi, Sumaiya Akter.
- England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
- Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vc), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah.
- South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase.
- Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Dasanayaka, Udeshika Prabodani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya.
The opening ceremony was held in Guwahati at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
