India is gearing up to host the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, marking the fourth time the country will stage this prestigious tournament. Scheduled for the September-October window, the event promises to showcase top-tier women’s cricket talent on Indian soil after a 12-year hiatus with the last edition hosted by India occurring in 2013.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shortlisted five venues, Visakhapatnam, Mullanpur, Indore, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati, for the global spectacle. Visakhapatnam is the front-runner to host the opening ceremony, while the final could take place at Indore or Guwahati.
With the men’s international fixtures and domestic tournaments overlapping during this period, the board opted for venues that could accommodate the event without clashing with other commitments. Visakhapatnam, known for its scenic Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, is poised to kick off the tournament in style. Meanwhile, Mullanpur in Punjab, Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, and Guwahati in Assam will share hosting duties.
Notably absent from the list are traditional cricketing hubs like Mumbai and Vadodara, which recently hosted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 won by the Mumbai Indians. Sources indicate that the BCCI avoided these locations due to the likelihood of monsoon rains persisting into early October, potentially disrupting matches. Instead, the selected venues offer more favorable weather conditions during the tournament window, ensuring a smoother execution of the event.
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The BCCI Apex Council finalised these tentative venues during a meeting in Kolkata on Saturday. The list has been forwarded to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for approval.
“The apex council has agreed on five venues, and now it will be sent to the ICC, which needs to give the final approval since it is a global event,” a BCCI source told Sportstar.
Once approved, a detailed recce of the venues will follow to confirm facilities and logistics.
This World Cup comes at a time of growing momentum for women’s cricket in India, bolstered by the success of the WPL and increased investment in the sport.
Also read: ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier to Begin From April 9 in Lahore
History of Women's ODI World Cup
The Women’s ODI World Cup, organized by the International Cricket Council, is the premier global competition in women’s cricket. Its history dates back to 1973, when the inaugural edition was held in England, two years before the first men’s Cricket World Cup. Hosts England won the first edition of the tournament.
India hosted the Women's ODI World Cup in 1978, 1997 and 2013. Australia have lifted the trophy seven times, the most by a team. They are also the defending champions. England have won four times, while New Zealand have one title to their name.
