World Cup Returns to India After Over a Decade
India is set to co-host the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 with Sri Lanka, marking the first time since 2013 that the tournament will be played on home soil. This World Cup also marks the return of a senior ICC Women’s tournament to the subcontinent for the first time since India hosted the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2016.
The event kicks off on September 30, with the Indian team hoping to finally break the jinx and secure their maiden title after coming close on two previous occasions.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur on Home Advantage
At a recent 50-day countdown event held in Mumbai, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur spoke about the excitement and pressure of playing a home World Cup.
“Playing in front of a home crowd is always special, and hopefully, this time we will give our 100 per cent and finally break that barrier that all Indian fans are waiting for,” she said. Kaur emphasised focusing on playing good cricket and maintaining that approach throughout the tournament.
The Indian team is coming off a successful tour of England, where they won both the T20 and ODI series. With a three-match ODI series against Australia lined up just before the World Cup, Kaur views it as an important challenge and confidence booster. “Playing against Australia is always challenging, and we get to know where we stand. The series will give us a lot of confidence. We have been putting a lot of effort into our training camps and the results are showing,” she added.
Smriti Mandhana on the Significance of a Home World Cup
Opening batter Smriti Mandhana reflected on how special it is to play a World Cup at home. “ODI World Cups are very special. I have been part of two ODI World Cups, but to be part of a home World Cup is very special. I remember watching the last one on TV as a kid, and that was the first televised World Cup for women’s cricket,” said Mandhana, who was 17 when India last hosted the tournament.
Jemimah Rodrigues on Team Confidence
Young all-rounder Jemimah Rodrigues spoke about the team’s positive mindset. “Coming from England, we have come out with a lot of confidence because, for the first time, we won a T20 series in England against England. Carrying that momentum into the ODIs, we won that also,” she said. Rodrigues added that the team is focused on preparation to get the desired result without getting ahead of themselves.
Countdown Event and Trophy Tour Launch
The countdown event was attended by former Indian captain Mithali Raj, former men’s all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, and ICC Chairman Jay Shah. Calling the tournament “a defining moment for the women’s game,” Jay Shah launched the ICC Trophy Tour, which will travel across host cities and visit schools to inspire young girls to take up cricket.
Chasing the Elusive Title
India has reached the World Cup final twice — in 2005 and 2017 — but is yet to cross the finish line. The 2017 final loss to England was heartbreaking but significantly boosted emotional and public support for women’s cricket in the country.
With the World Cup returning to India after more than a decade, the team is determined to make the most of this opportunity. The upcoming ODI series against Australia will be a crucial test of their form and readiness.
Yash Desai is a renowned journalist with over 10+ years of experience covering sports around the world. He began his career as a News Reporter in Delhi, India, and got an opportunity to cover several World events, including the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Games. He often felt that women’s sports are sidelined and given step-motherly treatment by the mainstream media. To bridge this gap and to build an equal playing field, Yash co-founded FemaleInSports and is currently working as a Lead Editor here.
