India’s euphoric triumph in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, crowned with a 52-run final victory over South Africa at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, sets the stage for the fourth edition of the ICC Women’s Championship (2025-2029).
Led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur under head coach Amol Muzumdar, the team etched history by claiming India’s maiden senior-level ICC title. This expanded 11-team competition, now including Zimbabwe, acts as the direct qualification pathway to the 2029 Women’s Cricket World Cup, promising 132 high-stakes ODIs across 44 three-match series.
Seeded by the 2025 World Cup standings, powerhouses like India (1st), South Africa (2nd), and Australia (3rd) gear up for a grueling cycle of four home and four away series each, blending ODIs with multi-format tours.
Expanded Format and Qualification Stakes
Since its 2014 inception, the ICC Championship has revolutionized women’s cricket by boosting match frequency and global exposure. This cycle elevates the action with 11 teams: India, South Africa, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland, and newcomers Zimbabwe, each facing eight opponents.
The top eight teams (top seven plus 2029 World Cup hosts) earn automatic qualification, while the bottom three head to the Qualifier.
Points System
It is a straightforward system with 2 points for a win, 1 each for ties/no-results/abandonments (loser gets 0). Ties in standings? Wins first, then net run rate across all matches, head-to-head points, head-to-head NRR, and finally original seeding as tiebreakers. No-result matches skip run rates.
Teams can bundle ODIs with T20Is or Tests, maximizing tours and fan engagement.
Seeding Based on 2025 World Cup Standings
India (1)
South Africa (2)
Australia (3)
England (4)
Sri Lanka (5)
New Zealand (6)
Bangladesh (7)
Pakistan (8)
West Indies (9)
Ireland (10)
Zimbabwe (11)
Note: West Indies, Ireland, and Zimbabwe have made it through their position in the ICC rankings.
Full Tours Schedule
| Team | Home Series | Away Series |
| AUS | ENG, NZ, BAN, IRE | IND, SA, WI, SL |
| BAN | SA, WI, ZIM, SL | ENG, IND, AUS, PAK |
| ENG | NZ, SA, BAN, IRE | IND, AUS, PAK, SL |
| IND | ENG, AUS, BAN, ZIM | NZ, SA, WI, IRE |
| IRE | IND, NZ, PAK, WI | ENG, AUS, ZIM, SL |
| NZ | IND, SA, ZIM, SL | ENG, AUS, PAK, IRE |
| PAK | ENG, NZ, BAN, ZIM | SA, WI, SL, IRE |
| SA | IND, AUS, PAK, WI | ENG, NZ, BAN, ZIM |
| SL | ENG, AUS, PAK, IRE | NZ, BAN, WI, ZIM |
| WI | IND, AUS, PAK, SL | SA, BAN, ZIM, IRE |
| ZIM | SA, WI, SL, IRE | IND, NZ, BAN, PAK |
Echoes from the Previous Cycle: Australia’s Edge
Australia dominated the prior 2022-2025 Championship, clinching 39 points from 24 matches, one win ahead of India. They toured Bangladesh, England, Ireland, and New Zealand while hosting India, Pakistan, South Africa, and the West Indies. The top six auto-qualified for the 2025 World Cup: Australia, hosts India, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand (edging Bangladesh on NRR). Bangladesh and Pakistan then punched tickets via the Qualifier, bypassing West Indies, Ireland, and others.
With India’s fresh World Cup momentum, can Harmanpreet Kaur’s side finally topple Australia and secure early 2029 qualification? This cycle promises rivalries, upsets, and breakthroughs, especially from Zimbabwe’s debut.
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