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The upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup, will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, marking India’s fourth time hosting the event after 1978, 1997, and 2013. Eight teams—India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—will compete in a round-robin format, with the top teams advancing to the semi-finals and final. The tournament is scheduled to begin on September 30 with the first match to be played between India Women and Sri Lanka Women at M.Chinaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. However, the recent speculations regarding Bengaluru hosting any match of the World Cup are rife.
A recent report by the Cricbuzz claimed that in a significant development for the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, Thiruvananthapuram’s Greenfield International Stadium has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as a key venue for the tournament. The decision reportedly follows the Karnataka government’s refusal to grant permission for hosting matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, citing serious safety concerns stemming from a tragic stampede on June 4, 2025, during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations. According to the reports, 11 people lost their lives and over 50 were injured in the incident.
Five matches of the ICC Women’s World Cup to be hosted at Bengaluru
As of now, no official confirmation has been given regarding the change of venue but reportedly ICC is set to confirm the change soon. According to the tournament fixtures, Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has to host five matches, including the tournament opener on September 30, 2025, featuring India against Sri Lanka, as well as the England-South Africa clash on October 3, India-Bangladesh on October 26, a semi-final on October 30, and potentially the final on November 2.
The fallout from the stampede has already impacted other cricketing events in Bengaluru. Reportedly, The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) was forced to relocate the Maharaja T20 Trophy to Mysuru’s Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Cricket Stadium and the Maharani T20 competition to Alur. It is said that the Karnataka government’s decision has drawn criticism from KSCA officials, who noted that the stadium has hosted over 750 matches, including nearly 15 IPL seasons, without major incidents prior to the June tragedy. Nevertheless, the government’s prioritization of public safety has led to the speculations of Bengaluru’s exclusion from the World Cup roster.
