India is set to host the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027, with Mumbai and Vadodara chosen as the venues for the six-team tournament from February 14 to 28. The Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will stage the historic event, which will feature Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka, the ICC announced on Wednesday, September 2.
Pakistan will not participate in the competition. The six teams earned qualification based on their positions in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings at the July 6 cut-off. The tournament will use a round-robin format, with every team playing the other five sides. The two highest-ranked teams after the league stage will meet in the final on February 28.
The tournament was initially awarded to Sri Lanka, but the hosting rights have been shifted to India as Sri Lanka Cricket continues working on governance reforms requested by the ICC.
The ICC Board expressed concerns about Sri Lanka Cricket’s governance during its Annual Conference in July. While acknowledging progress towards a new constitution, the board also emphasised that elections should be conducted at the earliest opportunity. Sri Lanka Cricket has also temporarily been barred from representation at ICC Board meetings.
Three countries — Bangladesh, India and South Africa — were assessed as potential replacement hosts using the ICC’s established hosting criteria. India was ultimately recommended, with the decision formally approved by the ICC Board on September 2.
Key details
Mumbai and Vadodara will stage the six-team tournament in February 2027.
Matches will be played at the Cricket Club of India and Vadodara International Cricket Stadium.
The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy will be played in the T20I format.
India and Sri Lanka are the only Asian teams taking part, with Pakistan absent.
Sri Lanka was originally scheduled to host the tournament.
The decision gives India another chance to host a major women’s cricket competition after staging the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. The Champions Trophy also strengthens the women’s international calendar, as the ICC seeks to stage a major women’s tournament every year.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the inaugural competition would feature the world’s leading teams in an intense and high-quality contest while encouraging sides to improve their rankings and compete at the highest level.
He said the annual schedule of major ICC women’s events would help build momentum, offer greater consistency and establish a stronger rhythm for players, fans and the women’s game globally.
The tournament will also mark India’s fourth major ICC event as host in a four-year period. India hosted the men’s ODI World Cup in 2023, the Women’s World Cup in 2025 and the men’s T20 World Cup, with the Indian team reaching the final in all three tournaments and winning the latter two.
