The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have confirmed India as the host nation for the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027. The tournament will be played from February 14 to February 28, 2027, and will bring six of the world’s leading women’s teams together for a new global T20I competition.
The announcement is a major development for women’s cricket as the ICC looks to establish a major women’s tournament on its calendar every year. The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 will feature a six team single round-robin format, with the top teams progressing to the final on February 28.
Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 Venues Confirmed
The Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 venues will be limited to two cities, Mumbai and Vadodara. This approach is designed to reduce travel between states and make the tournament easier for players, broadcasters and support staff to manage during the two-week window.
Mumbai’s Cricket Club of India, better known as Brabourne Stadium, will host matches during the tournament. The historic ground has considerable experience of hosting women’s international cricket and major women’s franchise matches.
The second venue will be the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium at Kotambi in Gujarat. The modern stadium has been developed with updated facilities, including modern drainage and pavilion infrastructure. Its inclusion also gives the ICC an opportunity to take a major women’s international tournament beyond India’s traditional cricketing centres.
Six Teams Set to Compete
Six teams have qualified for the first edition based on the ICC Women’s T20I team rankings cut off on July 6. Host nation India will be joined by Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Australia enter the competition as the reigning Women’s T20 World Cup champions, while England, New Zealand and South Africa have also established themselves as major forces in women’s international cricket.
Sri Lanka have retained their place in the tournament, while Pakistan did not meet the required ranking benchmark for qualification.
With such a strong group of teams, the competition is expected to provide several high quality contests before the final on February 28.
Why India Became the Host
The decision to stage the Women’s Champions Trophy India edition came after the original hosting plans changed. Sri Lanka had initially been awarded the tournament, but its hosting rights were reassigned while Sri Lanka Cricket continues to work through administrative and governance reforms required by the ICC.
The ICC considered replacement bids from Bangladesh, South Africa and India before selecting India based on its host evaluation criteria.
India’s established cricket infrastructure, experience in hosting major international tournaments and strong women’s cricket following made it a natural choice for the inaugural event.
Women’s Champions Trophy Schedule Yet to Be Released
While the tournament dates and venues have been confirmed, the complete Women’s Champions Trophy schedule has not yet been announced. The ICC and BCCI are expected to release the match by match fixture list and ticketing details in the coming weeks.
The limited venue model should make the tournament easier for teams to navigate. Players will not have to deal with frequent long distance travel, which could also help with workload management.
The inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 therefore promises to be an important milestone for women’s cricket. With India hosting six top teams across two modern venues, the tournament could become a regular and important part of the women’s international calendar.
