India to stage landmark inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy

India will take center stage in a landmark moment for women’s cricket after being selected to host the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in February 2027.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that India will replace Sri Lanka as host of the six-team tournament, which will be played from February 14-28 in Mumbai and Vadodara.

The decision, ratified by the ICC Board on September 2, sets the stage for a new addition to the women’s international calendar and brings together six of the world’s leading teams for a compact, high-stakes competition.

Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka will contest the historic first edition.

Two venues, six elite teams

The Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will provide the settings for the tournament.

The competition is expected to add another significant layer to the expanding women’s international game, with the six participating nations representing some of the strongest teams in the world.

For India, hosting the inaugural edition also represents an opportunity to showcase its growing influence in women’s cricket on home soil.

The tournament had originally been earmarked for Sri Lanka, but the change follows the country’s continuing efforts to implement reforms outlined at the ICC Annual Conference in July.

ICC examines three host candidates

India emerged from a formal evaluation process that also included Bangladesh and South Africa.

The ICC assessed all three candidates against its established host-selection criteria before recommending India for the assignment.

The ICC Board subsequently approved the recommendation on September 2, clearing the way for India to stage the historic tournament.

The decision gives the competition a high-profile home while allowing Sri Lanka additional time to complete the reforms requested by the governing body.

Shah hails new chapter for women’s game

ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the tournament as an important development in the continued growth of women’s cricket.

“The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket,” Shah said.

He emphasized that the inaugural competition would bring the sport’s leading teams together while creating another incentive for nations to improve their rankings and compete for opportunities on the international stage.

“As the inaugural edition of the tournament, it will bring together the best teams in the world in an intense, high-quality competition, while creating even greater incentive for teams to continue rising through the rankings and competing for a place on the global stage,” he added.

Building a consistent global calendar

The introduction of the Champions Trophy is part of a broader effort to establish a stronger annual rhythm for elite women’s cricket.

Shah pointed to the significance of having a major ICC women’s tournament every year, arguing that greater consistency can help sustain interest among players and supporters while strengthening the sport globally.

“With a marquee ICC women’s event now taking place every year, we have a significant opportunity to build greater momentum, provide more consistency, and create a stronger rhythm for the women’s game, its players and its fans around the world,” he said.

With the dates and venues now confirmed, attention will turn to the six teams preparing to compete for a place in history.

When the first ball is delivered in Mumbai on February 14, the winner will not simply claim a trophy.

It will become the first-ever champion of a tournament designed to establish another enduring fixture on the global women’s cricket calendar.