As the countdown to the ODI Women’s World Cup 2025 begins with just 50 days remaining and the tournament set to kick off on September 30 in India, captain Harmanpreet Kaur is rallying the team and fans with one clear message: “it’s time to break the barrier.”
Cricket legends Mithali Raj and Yuvraj Singh headlined star-studded panels in Mumbai, discussing multiple facets of women’s cricket at the event marking ‘50 Days to Go’ for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 staged in the home soil, which also saw the launch of the tournament’s Trophy Tour.
At the countdown launch skipper Kaur said, “Playing in front of a home crowd is always special, and hopefully this time we’ll give our 100 per cent and finally break the barrier that all Indian fans have been waiting for.”
India has come agonizingly close to ICC glory but never clinched the title. Their journey includes: Runners-up in 2005, Third place in 2009, seventh in 2013, a runners-up heartbreak at Lord’s in 2017, where Harmanpreet produced a career-defining 171* in the semifinal against Australia, fifth-place finish in 2022.
“I still remember that knock – it was very special. A lot changed for me personally after that. At the time, I didn’t fully realise what had happened, but when we returned to India after losing the final, the number of people waiting and cheering for us was truly remarkable. That was something very special,” the India skipper recalled.
Recent performances have only bolstered faith in India’s title credentials. In late July 2025, the women’s squad defeated England, winning both the T20I and ODI series. Kaur starred with a sublime century, while Smriti Mandhana became the first women batter to score centuries in all three formats, while young pace sensation Kranti Gaud claimed a stunning 6/52. That win highlighted India’s improving fielding standards and emerging new talent, both key pillars heading into the World Cup.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah formally inaugurated the event, which was later highlighted by engaging panel discussions with Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta.
Shah described the upcoming Women’s World Cup as a prime opportunity to accelerate the growth of the women’s game, praising the insights shared by current and former players during the panel discussions.
“The return of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 to India comes at a pivotal moment for the sport, offering the perfect stage for a truly world-class event that will enhance the game’s global stature,” Shah remarked. “At the ICC, we’re always open to fresh ideas and committed to finding ways to sustain women’s cricket’s upward momentum. Dialogues like today’s are essential in shaping a shared vision and driving the game forward.”
The ICC Women’s World Cup will run from September 30 to November 2, with matches spread across five cities in two countries. Vizag, Indore, Guwahati, and Colombo are confirmed venues, while Bengaluru has been named as a host city but remains under a cloud of uncertainty as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) awaits official clearance.
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is scheduled to host four matches, including the tournament opener between India and Sri Lanka and one semifinal. If, as expected, Pakistan do not qualify, the venue will also stage the final on November 2.
The tournament’s build-up will be amplified by a Trophy Tour covering all host cities, along with stops in Delhi and Mumbai. The tour will visit iconic landmarks, offering fans the chance to engage with the event both in person and online via the dedicated Instagram channel.
As part of a wider school legacy programme, the Trophy Tour will also make stops at multiple schools in each host city. In collaboration with the BCCI and ICC, selected schools will be given the opportunity to attend World Cup matches, fostering greater interest in the sport among young fans.
