The countdown has officially started for the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup 2025. In the presence of Jay Shah, Devajit Saikia, Yuvraj Singh, Harmanpreet, and Smriti Mandhana, the prestigious ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 Trophy was unveiled in Mumbai. India and Sri Lanka are the two co-hosts of the tournament, where team India will be one of the favorites to win the title. 

Considering the home advantages and recent performances, the women in blue will kickstart the campaign as a hot favorite. The first match of the tournament is scheduled to start on September 30, 2025 (Tuesday), at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The hosts, India and Sri Lanka, will face off in the tournament opener, while the defending champion, Australia, will start their campaign on the following day against New Zealand at Holkar Stadium, Indore. 

The tournament will be concluded on November 2, 2025 (Sunday), at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, or the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. All the games of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 Trophy will start at 3.00 PM. The Semi Final 1 and Semi Final 2 matches will be arranged on October 29, 2025, and October 30, 2025, at Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Guwahati, or R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, and M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, respectively. 

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Ahead of the World Cup, Team India will face Australia in a bilateral 3-match ODI series from September 14 to September 20. Before that, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team India won a 3-match ODI against England by 2-1. 

The island of Jersey is going to hold an important leg of the 2024–2026 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League in Group A, as the nations will compete in the second round of matches towards the 2027 Cricket World Cup. The event is to coincide with the tournament taking place in August 2025, and will host 15 List A matches over two weeks of cricket, at two beautiful venues, Grainville Cricket Ground in St Saviour and Farmers Cricket Club Ground in St Martin. The competing nations, Denmark, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea and Qatar, will compete for the top positions in the table, as they aim towards the World Cup, over the two-week period of cricket.

A Tournament with Stakes

This round of Challenge League A is significant, as we reach the halfway stage of the tournament. Only the one team that finishes at the top of the group will qualify for the next round of FIFA World Cup qualification, so every match is important in determining who emerges as the group leader. Jersey will be hoping to utilise local knowledge of the pitches and the support of the home crowd. The competition remains stiff, though, with PNG, Kenya and Denmark also putting together strong teams.

Full Schedule – 2025 Jersey Challenge League A

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Points Table – League A (as of 5 October 2024)

The Road Ahead

As each match carries List A status, players will be even more motivated to improve their individual stats while contributing to their team's qualification journey. There are very few things which can motivate performance as much as rankings and stats, and this tournament signifies another growing chapter for Associate cricket in which every player is looking to step onto the world stage. Jersey is ready. The teams are ready. And the road to the World Cup just got a little bit hotter.

On this day, India won the T20I World Cup after a 17-year wait. The match against South Africa in Bridgetown was filled with thrills in every fold. There was a point in the match where Aiden Markram's team was looking solid to win the silverware. But India, with multiple game changers in the playing XI, did not want to wait any longer to claim the prestigious title. Suryakumar Yadav's stunning catch, perhaps the catch of the tournament, stalled the result between two sides. India, captained by Rohit Sharma, became the champion of the 2024 ICC T20I World Cup. 

In the first innings, India was in deep trouble when a rampant Keshav Maharaj took the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in 3 balls, and Kagiso Rabada departed Suryakumar Yadav after a few deliveries. When the stage is big and matters are looking complicated, it's the perfect scenario for Virat Kohli to shine. Kohli scored 76 runs off 59 deliveries. In the later part of the innings, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube played 47- and 27-run innings, respectively, to take their team to 176 runs. 

A team with fiery batters like Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen could easily achieve the total, but Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh had their inch-perfect plans to create a castle to defend the fighting total. Pandya was on a different level on that day. The all-rounder took 3 wickets in 3 overs.

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Virat's batting and Pandya's bowling cherished crores of dream

Klaasen (52) and Miller (21) were among the dangerous batters who lost their wickets against Pandya. The moment when Klaasen was looking to shift the gears, Pandya struck. India won the match by only a 7-run margin. 

After the game, Captain Rohit Sharma heaped praise on Virat Kohli for his unforgettable contributions throughout the series. "No one was in doubt about the form of Virat, on top of his game for the last 15 years. Come the occasion, big players stand up. It is crucial to hold that end for the others to play around him. Team effort because it wasn't a wicket to bat freely. He did that perfectly; that experience all the years come together, and Axar's batting was crucial," Rohit said. 

June 25, 1983—a date when the Asian Giant was awake and the King was dethroned. It was then the biggest upset in cricket when Michael Holding departed and the mighty West Indies halted for 140 against India's 183—India won the World Cup—1983 World Cup. 

Before the final, it was like a repeat telecast of the first two World Cups when the West Indies proved their dominance and won the highest trophy of cricket back-to-back. Under Clive Lloyd's leadership, the Caribbeans, like before, cruised into the final match of '83. When India somehow managed the other spot in the final, on pen and paper the match was like between David and Goliath. 

Batting first, team India managed to get only 183 on the scoreboard in 60 overs. The fierce bowling attack of the West Indies, with Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Joel Garner, simply demolished the Indian batting line-up. The house-full Lord's Cricket Ground was ready to witness another dominating performance by the West Indies in the title-decider contest.

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Kapil Dev's catch and the wicket of Sir Vivian Richards 

Sir Viv Richards, considered as the most dangerous and hard-hitting batsman, came to bat in the crease at number three and got off to a perfect ignition. He was toying with India's medium-pace bowling lineup until Madan Lal delivered a slower one when West Indies was on 57. Richards mistimed the shot, and Captain Kapil Dev, on mid-on, took an iconic catch under pressure, keeping his head cool. With 7 boundaries and a 117.85 strike rate, Viv departed for 33. 

The defending champion still had a fair amount of chances to win the match, and by then, India got the extra self-belief they needed to pull out the greatest upset that no one saw coming. Clive Lloyd, Larry Gomes, Faoud Bacchus, Jeff Dujon... all came and went. The tiny target of 183 is registered in the history book. Mohinder Amarnath was selected for the man of the match award for his 3-wicket spell and 26 runs with the bat. 

Rohit Sharma is widely Rohit considered to be one of cricket's most stylish and vibrant batsmen. Praised for his free-flowing strokeplay and boundary-clearing capability, Rohit has been a mainstay of India's limited-overs side for many years. His six-hitting talent, particularly in the high-stakes atmosphere of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, has turned many games India's way.

As the T20 World Cup began in 2007, has been a regular feature, playing every edition a testament to his ability, fitness, and reliability. In these nine editions, Rohit has hit 50 sixes in total, the second-highest six-hitter in the history of the tournament after the West Indies' big hitter Chris Gayle.

This is a year-wise analysis of Rohit Sharma's sixes in T20 World Cups:

 ALSO SEE:'It won't be easy' - Former India skipper reflects upon chances of Rohit-Virat duo in ODI World Cup 2027

Watch the Video: 

All Rohit Sharma 50 sixes Compilation in T20I World Cup 720p50.pic.twitter.com/5obb2Wkled

— Zeref (@Techno3012) June 22, 2025

Stellar Career Batting Stats That Define Rohit Sharma

The one in 2024 was particularly special, where Rohit smashed a record 15 sixes, the most in any World Cup series. Rohit's overall batting figures even more reflect his great ability. In Tests, he has amassed 4,301 runs at 40.57, with 12 centuries. In One Day Internationals, he has more than 11,000 runs at an average of almost 49, with 32 hundreds. His T20I stats are not bad either, with 4,231 runs at a strike rate of over 140.

Aside from his batting prowess, Rohit is a powerful leader and finisher at crunch times. His composed nature and acutely intelligent cricket brain have led India through numerous key instances. His T20 World Cup record-breaking six-hitting not only thrills the audience but also solidifies his place among cricket's new legends.

"We will win 7 in a row now," Mark Waugh kept his words in the World Cup 1999. In the final, Australia simply demolished Pakistan to lift the World Cup and proved their supremacy in world cricket. 

During the preliminary stage of the game, many critics spoke against Australia, especially after their defeat against Pakistan. The match was on May 23, 1999, at Leeds. Inzamam-ul-Haq played an important 81-run knock and was selected as the best player of the match. In that contest, Australia was defeated by a 10-run margin.

On June 20, 1999, Pakistan and Australia faced each other again, this time for the title decider match at Lord's. After their previous encounter on May 23, Wasim Akram's team was confident before the final, and on the other side, pressure mounted over team Australia. 

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Australia smashed Pakistan to show their authority

Then the captain of Australia, Mark Waugh, promised to "win 7 in a row." When the match started at Lord's, the script was flipped before anyone could notice. The road to destruction was paved by Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, and Tom Moody, ornamented by the great Shane Warne. Warne took 4 wickets, and McGrath and Moody claimed a brace each. Pakistan bundled for 132 in 39 overs.

Through this match, Australia showed how fierce they could be when they seemed most vulnerable. With such a low total, Pakistan had no option but to admit the faith, World Cup final loss in 1999. Mark Waugh remained not out for 37, Adam Gilchrist played a blistering 54-run knock off 36, Ricky Ponting scored 24, and with Mark it was Darren Lehmann who remained unbeaten and secured the title for their country. 

The upcoming edition of the ICC ODI Women's World Cup is set to be held from September 30. India, one of the favorites to win the prestigious title and the host of the tournament, will face their archrivals, Pakistan.

The date for the India vs. Pakistan women's team has been released by the International Cricket Council (ICC). As per the latest report published by ESPNcricinfo, India's fixture for the Pakistan game will be arranged at the neutral venue of R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and the match will be on the 5th. Due to the conflict between the two countries, Pakistan will play their World matches in a neutral venue.

The tournament will kick off with the match between the host, India, and Sri Lanka on September 30 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After the games with Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively, India will face Bangladesh on October 26 in Bengaluru.

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On the other side, the defending champion, Australia, will start their campaign on October 1 at Indore's Holkar Stadium against New Zealand. India is hosting the women's ODI World Cup for the first time since 2013. There will be a total of 28 matches in the league phase, followed by three knockouts. Matches are set to be played at multiple venues across India, including Bengaluru, Indore, Guwahati, and Visakhapatnam, and Colombo as the neutral venue. 

India will take on Sri Lanka in the opener in Bengaluru; all of Pakistan's games, including the semi-final and final (if they get there), will be played at neutral Colombo

Read more: https://t.co/ack715tByK pic.twitter.com/TIFrEsKuXw

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 16, 2025

Opening fixtures and knockouts:

Sept 30, Opening match—Ind vs. SL, Bengaluru

Oct 29 - 1st semi-final, Guwahati/Colombo

Oct 30 - 2nd semi-final, Bengaluru

Nov 2 - Final, Bengaluru/Colombo

Latest reports have started to circulate about the future of Rohit Sharma in the One Day International (ODI) format after retiring first from T20Is and then from the Tests. Regarding Sharma's success in the white ball cricket, his followers and a number of cricket fans were in the hope to see the batsman leading Team India in the ICC World Cup 2027 as well.

Now, the latest reports are suggesting a completely different possibility: Rohit Sharma's career in ODI is under scrutiny. Indian cricket is now going through a transition phase where the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has to adopt the split captaincy method, with Rohit Sharma as the captain of the ODI format, Suryakumar Yadav as the leader in T20Is, and Subhman Gill leading the team in Test cricket.

According to some fresh updates, BCCI is not considering Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain for too long, despite winning the Champions Trophy and the ICC T20I World Cup. Back in 2023, the opener changed his batting approach and took a relatively aggressive batting style to regain the much-desired ICC title.

Read More: Shubman Gill can bat at no.4, Sai Sudharsan at 3: Report

Rohit can be uncertain for WC 2027 as well

Rohit succeeded in his own method. But his age can be a cause for BCCI officials to reconsider his name as a captain for another World Cup chase. Rohit, now 38, way ahead of his career-best days, can be asked to step down from his current role in ODIs, as suggested in recent reports. If this happens before the 2027 World Cup, then the board has to appoint a new captain, and Rohit's participation in another World Cup campaign can be under lots of uncertainty. 

After making his debut in ODI in 2007 against Ireland, 'Hitman' so far has played 273 matches and scored 11,168 runs with the highest score of 264 and a 48.76 batting average. He scored 32 centuries in this format. 

As India gears up for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, eyes will definitely be on the senior players, with Virat Kohli expected to remain a vital part of the Indian men's batting contingent. With Kohli having retired from Test cricket in early 2025, he will now be fully focused on the various white-ball formats and, more so, ODIs. With the Men's ODI World Cup being played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, the Men in Blue will be concentrating on honing their squad, blooding younger players, and settling on a playing XI that can perform under pressure. Kohli's experience will be especially useful here in the meantime and transition period. 

India's ODI calendar between mid-2025 and early 2027 features a number of significant bilateral series, providing a combination of home and away tests. The ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP) includes India playing a total of 27 ODIs prior to the World Cup. The games will be crucial in gauging bench strength, measuring form, and giving match practice against strong cricketing nations such as Australia, England, and New Zealand.

Kohli, presuming fitness and form, is likely to play in most of these series. His job will not only be to make runs but also to lead young players and offer stability in high-intensity games. India will go into each series with a razor-sharp eye on combinations, depth, and flexibility across conditions. This is the entire list of India's upcoming ODI series prior to the 2027 World Cup:

Also Read: Anushka Sharma’s emotional post on Virat Kohli's Test retirement

India’s ODI Matches Before 2027 World Cup

Over the years, cricket has been more than just a sport—it’s been a celebration of national pride and international unity. Even this beloved game, however, has not been spared from the effects of terrorism. Various series and tournaments have been interrupted, delayed, or outright cancelled as a result of terrorist threats or attacks. Even with tight security protocols by cricketing boards and international organizations, these horrific incidents have cast shadows over the sport. Following are a few of the most important instances when cricket was suspended due to terror-related activities:

February 1996—World Cup Forfeits in Sri Lanka

Both Australia and the West Indies declined to play their respective matches in Colombo during the 1996 Cricket World Cup after a fatal bombing at the Central Bank, claiming the lives of 91 people and wounding more than 1,400. With guarantees of excellent security by the Sri Lankan board and the ICC, both sides lost their matches by default. Both Sri Lanka and Australia were then awarded full points, and Sri Lanka ultimately achieved their first World Cup victory.

May 2002—New Zealand's Karachi Exit

New Zealand cancelled their tour of Pakistan mid-tour following a huge explosion outside their Karachi hotel. The bomb, targeting French naval staff, exploded just before the second Test match. Although no cricketers were badly hurt, New Zealand physio Dayle Shackel received minor injuries. The tour was cancelled forthwith following emergency consultations.

February 2003—World Cup Walkovers

In the 2003 ODI World Cup, England did not play in Zimbabwe on grounds of safety and politics, and New Zealand did not play in Kenya for fear of terrorism. Both forfeitures had a major impact on the tournament—Zimbabwe progressed to the Super Sixes, and Kenya made its first-ever semi-final entry.

Also Read: Cricketers with military Background: Serving both nation and game

July 2006—Tri-Series Cancelled in Sri Lanka

A tri-series among India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka was abandoned after South Africa withdrew because of bomb explosions in Colombo that were connected with the LTTE. Even though there was no direct threat to the players, Cricket South Africa felt that it was too risky. As India remained behind, a planned game was rain-washed, and efforts to reorganize the series into a bilateral one ensued.

April 2008—Australia Cancels Pakistan Tour

Australia canceled their Pakistan tour as a result of mounting terrorist violence in Islamabad. Cricket Australia cited a failure to secure player safety. Even after talks with the PCB and ICC, the series was shelved rather than being hosted at a neutral location.

September 2008—Champions Trophy Postponed

The 2008 ICC Champions Trophy, to be held originally in Pakistan, was rescheduled after five countries, including England and Australia, declined to tour because of concerns over terrorism. Although Pakistan kept hosting rights initially, the event was later moved and conducted in South Africa.

November 2008—Mumbai Attacks and Champions League T20

The first Champions League T20 was abandoned after the horrific terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26. Games were to be conducted at grounds such as the Brabourne Stadium, and the players were going to reside at the Taj Mahal Hotel, which was one of the sites under attack. The tournament was postponed to 2009.

November 2008 - England's 2008 India Tour

The Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008, put England's India tour on hold, scrapping the last two ODIs following a Cuttack match. The Test series resumed with venues moved to Chennai and Mohali under tight security. India won 1-0, with the Chennai Test beginning December 11.

March 2009—Sri Lankan Team Attacked in Lahore

On March 3, 2009, the Sri Lankan team bus was ambushed by terrorists while traveling to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. The ambush killed six security officials and two civilians, injuring some players in the process. The attack caused the Test match to be canceled and marked the isolation of Pakistan from international cricket for years.

Also Read: Will number one team on points table crowned as IPL 2025 winner?

March 2019—Christchurch Mosque Shooting

Bangladesh's cricket team escaped a fatal shooting at Masjid Al Noor in Christchurch, New Zealand, by a narrow margin. The third test was cancelled forthwith after the players, who had come for Friday prayers, ran away from the area. The ICC was in full agreement with the decision, and the team came back safely.

May 2025—IPL Suspended Amid Tensions

In May 2025, the BCCI postponed the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a week due to terrorist attacks in Pahalgam and increased border tensions. The incident led to the abandonment of a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala. Relocation overseas and additional scheduling are being considered with safety as the priority.

These events remind us that cricket, even as a source of unity, is not immune to the forces of international strife. Each cancellation or abandonment bears the burden of lives lost and nations rattled—but also the abiding strength of the sport.