The ICC has released a revised Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule, set to begin on September 30, 2025. The biggest change is that the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai has replaced Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium as one of the host venues. Guwahati will now host the tournament opener between India and Sri Lanka, while Navi Mumbai will stage two India matches, the second semi-final, and possibly the final on November 2.
This reshuffle in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule comes after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) failed to get police clearance to host matches in Bengaluru. Authorities have remained firm in their decision ever since the tragic stampede at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory parade on June 4, which left 11 people dead and dozens injured.
Navi Mumbai Becomes the Key Venue
According to the updated Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule, Navi Mumbai will play a central role in this year’s tournament. The DY Patil Stadium will host India’s matches against New Zealand on October 23 and Bangladesh on October 26. It will also stage the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh match, which was earlier scheduled in Colombo for October 20.
The stadium has also been allocated one of the most high-profile fixtures of the tournament, the second semi-final on October 30. Furthermore, it has been chosen as the venue for the final on November 2, but only if Pakistan do not qualify.
Several other matches have also been shifted as part of the updated Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule. The Sri Lanka vs England game on October 11, originally scheduled in Guwahati, will now be played in Colombo. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh vs New Zealand clash on October 10 has been shifted from Visakhapatnam to Guwahati. On the other hand, the England vs New Zealand match on October 26, set to be the tournament’s only day game, has been moved from Guwahati to Visakhapatnam.
Before these changes, Bengaluru was expected to be one of the main venues, hosting not just India’s opening fixture but also the semi-final on October 30 and the final on November 2. However, following the tragic events in June, the city has been completely removed from the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule.
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Bengaluru Left Out After Safety Concerns
The removal of Bengaluru from the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule is the latest setback for the KSCA. The June 4 stampede during RCB’s IPL celebrations has led to widespread criticism of both the franchise and the state association. The state government set up a one-member committee to investigate the incident, and the committee concluded that the Chinnaswamy Stadium was “unsafe” for large gatherings.
Since then, the police have repeatedly refused to grant permission for matches at the ground. Even when the KSCA proposed hosting tournaments behind closed doors, the authorities declined. As a result, the KSCA had to move the Maharaja T20, Karnataka’s premier state league, from Bengaluru to Mysuru.
The stadium has been further troubled by long-running disputes with local civic authorities and the electricity department. Officials cut power to the venue due to non-compliance with fire-safety rules. This has only deepened the crisis for the KSCA, which has not seen any top-level cricket at the Chinnaswamy since May 17, when the RCB vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2025 match was abandoned due to rain.
Before Navi Mumbai was finalized in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule, the BCCI considered Thiruvananthapuram as an alternative. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) was willing to host matches, but the lack of direct flight connections to other venues proved to be a major obstacle, leading to its exclusion from the final schedule.
Challenges Ahead for KSCA and Bengaluru
The developments have left Bengaluru’s cricket fans disappointed, as they were looking forward to witnessing India’s matches and the later stages of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has long been one of India’s most popular cricket venues, but recent controversies have placed its future in doubt.
The KSCA’s relationship with the police and government has been tense for years, with multiple disputes over event permissions and stadium management. The IPL victory parade tragedy, however, has brought things to a breaking point. With 11 lives lost and many more injured, the authorities have taken a strict stance, prioritizing public safety over cricketing traditions.
Venkatesh Prasad, the former India pacer and an outspoken voice for Karnataka cricket, recently expressed hope that international cricket will eventually return to the Chinnaswamy. However, until the safety concerns are resolved and the stadium complies with regulations, it remains uncertain when Bengaluru will be allowed to host again.
For now, Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Colombo will take center stage in delivering the tournament under the revised Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Schedule. Fans across India will still get the chance to see the world’s best women cricketers in action, though Bengaluru’s absence will surely be felt.
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