A view of the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The stadium will host the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup matches that were originally scheduled to be played in Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Navi Mumbai has replaced Bengaluru as a venue to host the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, to be played in India and Sri Lanka from September 30.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday (August 22, 2025) that all the matches that were to be staged at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, including provisionally the final, will now be played at the Dr. D.Y. Patil Stadium.
The venue switch was necessitated due to the Chinnaswamy Stadium failing to get clearance from the local authorities in the aftermath of the stampede outside the stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s celebration on June 4.
“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,” ICC chairman Jay Shah said in a statement on Friday (August 22, 2025).
“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.”
With the Karnataka State Cricket Association formally informing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — the tournament host — last week about its inability to host, Thiruvananthapuram was considered as the first choice to stage the games.
However, logistical challenges — with Thiruvananthapuram airport not having direct flight connectivity to any of the other four tournament venues — meant it dropped out of the race despite the Kerala Cricket Association’s willingness to host the matches at a short notice.
The private stadium on the outskirts of Mumbai then emerged as the natural choice. Considering that the monsoon recedes from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region early October, Navi Mumbai will host its first game on October 20.
With Bengaluru out of contention, the BCCI is understood to have pushed for Guwahati — the hometown of its secretary — to stage the final. The negotiations resulted in Guwahati being awarded the opening game (earlier in Bengaluru) and a semifinal, provided Pakistan fails to qualify for the semifinal.
If Pakistan qualifies, it will play its semifinal in Colombo, its base for the entire tournament. Navi Mumbai is assured of hosting the final.
Published – August 22, 2025 03:27 pm IST
