ICC expands WODI World Cup to 10 teams: Details here
What's the story
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced its decision to expand the 2029 Women's ODI World Cup from eight to 10 teams. The move comes as part of the ICC's commitment to promoting women's cricket, following the success of the recently concluded edition (2025) in India. The eight-team tournament set a new record with nearly 3,00,000 fans attending live matches and an unprecedented viewership across India.
Expansion rationale
ICC's commitment to women's cricket
The ICC has reiterated its dedication to the development of women's cricket. The board said in a statement, "The ICC reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of Women's Cricket and heralded the success of ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 in India as testament to its long-standing faith in the Women's game." This expansion is part of their ongoing efforts to promote and grow women's cricket globally.
Upcoming tournament
Expansion of Women's T20 World Cup
In addition to the WODI World Cup, the ICC has also announced an expansion for the Women's T20 World Cup set to be held next year. The tournament will see an increase from 10 to 12 teams, further showcasing the ICC's commitment to expanding women's cricket at all levels. This decision aligns with the ICC's broader goals for women's cricket.
Viewership
Record viewership in WODI WC
India's historic Women's ODI World Cup win has set new records for cricket broadcasting in India. The final, held in Navi Mumbai, saw India clinch their first-ever ICC trophy after they beat South Africa by 52 runs. The match attracted an unprecedented viewership of 185 million on JioHotstar, matching that of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final and surpassing the Indian Premier League's average daily reach. According to JioStar, the tournament reached a staggering 446 million viewers.
Final
Record title for India
The Indian team made history by winning their first-ever global title in women's cricket. In the final against South Africa, India set a strong total of 298/7, thanks to Shafali Verma's 87 and Deepti Sharma's 58. Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh also contributed with important knocks. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt fought valiantly with a century, but Deepti (5/39) helped India secure a 52-run victory, marking their maiden World Cup title win.