The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has begun and will run from September 30 to November 2, 2025. It’s being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This is the 13th edition of the tournament, with eight teams competing. The prize money is a record USD 13.88 million, showing cricket’s growing support for gender equality in sports.
Which Countries are hosting the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025?
The tournament is being hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and it’s the first time Sri Lanka is hosting the Women’s World Cup. Matches are being played in several cities, including Guwahati, Indore, Colombo, Visakhapatnam, and Navi Mumbai.
The opening ceremony took place at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati, right before the first game between India and Sri Lanka.
How many Teams are Qualified for the 2025 World Cup?
The eight qualified teams for the 2025 World Cup are:
- India (hosts)
- Australia
- England
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
Most teams qualified through the ICC Women’s Championship, with Bangladesh and Pakistan coming through the 2025 World Cup Qualifier.
Opening Match Highlights
The first match of the World Cup was between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl first. A key highlight was Udeshika Prabodhani taking the wicket of India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana.
India’s playing XI featured big names like Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma.
What is the Prize Money and Equity?
The winner of the tournament will take home USD 4.48 million, while the runner-up will get USD 2.24 million. This prize pool is the biggest ever in Women’s World Cup history, with higher participation fees and match-win bonuses than previous editions.
Match Schedule
The matches officially kicked off on September 30, 2025. The first game was played in Guwahati, and the rest are being held across different venues in India and Sri Lanka.
Fans can follow live scores, updates, news, and videos on the ICC’s official website and on popular platforms like Hotstar.