The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has undergone a late change of plans. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will not feature in the tournament, with the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai stepping in as its replacement.
This shift ensures that the event, scheduled from 30 September to 2 November, will continue as planned, with five venues across India and Sri Lanka hosting matches: DY Patil Stadium (Navi Mumbai), ACA Stadium (Guwahati), Holkar Stadium (Indore), ACA-VDCA Stadium (Visakhapatnam), and R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo).
Welcoming the decision, ICC Chairman Jay Shah described Navi Mumbai as a proven destination for the women’s game, “Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women’s cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans.
“I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years.”
He also underlined the tournament’s wider importance, “We stand at a pivotal moment in the journey of the women’s game. This World Cup has the potential to be remembered as one of those defining milestones that shaped the sport’s future, not only in India but across the cricketing world.”
On the schedule change, Shah emphasized confidence in the final line-up of venues, “While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women’s game. The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans.”
The DY Patil Stadium’s history of staging women’s Tests, India–Australia T20Is, and multiple WPL clashes makes it a natural choice. Earlier, Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram was under consideration, but its lack of women’s cricket history meant it could not compete with Navi Mumbai’s established legacy.
The first semi-final will be played on 29 October in Guwahati or Colombo, while the second semi-final is set for 30 October in Navi Mumbai. The final will take place on 2 November, either in Colombo or Navi Mumbai.
Special provisions apply to Pakistan: if they qualify for the first semi-final, it will be staged in Colombo, and if they reach the final, Colombo will host the title match. If a India–Pakistan semi-final happens, then it will also be held in Colombo but if Pakistan misses out, all knockouts will take place in India.
With Bengaluru out, five fixtures have shifted to Navi Mumbai:
20 October: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
23 October: India vs New Zealand
26 October: India vs Bangladesh
30 October: Semi-Final 2
2 November: The Final (if Pakistan do not qualify)
The revised plan puts Navi Mumbai at the heart of the World Cup narrative. Its proven fan engagement and infrastructure promise a tournament befitting its status as the game’s premier event. With fixtures locked in and anticipation growing, the focus now turns to the action that will unfold from 30 September onwards.
(Quotes sourced from the ICC)
