Women's Champions Trophy: ICC reveals dates for inaugural edition of …

The first-ever edition of the ICC Women's Champions Trophy is set to take place from February 14 to 28, 2027, in India. djcc.club

The International Cricket Council (ICC) shared a post on its official social media handle, confirming the development. All the matches of the marquee event will be played at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Vadodara.

A new chapter in women's cricket is waiting to be written 🤩

The dates and venues for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027 are locked in 🔒https://t.co/QrY2iyDwyU

BlogRonald Araujo Ready for World Cup Clash with Barcelona Teammate Lamine YamalRonald Araujo and Uruguay are preparing for a tough test as they face off against Lamine Yamal and Spain in their final Group H fixture at the 2026 World Cup. The match, set to ...Open →

— ICC (@ICC) September 2, 2026

Initially, Sri Lanka had the hosting rights, but the event has now been moved to India. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will continue to make the requisite reforms outlined at the ICC’s Annual Conference in July.

ICC chairman Jay Shah expresses views on inaugural Women's Champions Trophy

The chairman of the ICC, Jay Shah, said that the tournament will help the teams to continue rising through the rankings.

"The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket. 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 said.

"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," added Shah.

The Women's Champions Trophy will be played in the T20I format with the six teams competing in the round-robin league. The top two teams will advance to the title clash of the marquee event on February 28, 2027.

The event will consist of Australia, England, Team India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka as they seek to become the inaugural winners of the women's tournament.

Currently, the Asian teams are busy featuring in the ongoing Women's T20 Asia Cup.

Argentina cannot retire Lionel Messi’s iconic No.10 shirt despite his international retirement, with FIFA’s squad-number rules preventing the number from being omitted at major tournaments. The same issue arose after Diego Maradona’s retirement, when Argentina’s attempt to retire the shirt was rejected. Now, Messi’s legendary number faces the same fate, forcing Argentina to eventually hand it to another player.

Mukesh Kumar looked a visibly satisfied man as he was on his way to meet a friend in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon. The Bengal pacer, along with his state teammate Mohammed Shami, played a pivotal role as East Zone stormed into the Duleep Trophy semi-final for the first time in 14 years.

The 32-year-old pacer endured an injury-riddled 2025-26 season and struggled to find his best rhythm. Since his last ODI appearance for India, against Zimbabwe in July 2024, Mukesh has slipped down the pecking order among the fast bowlers in national team’s radar. But the pacer from Gopalganj is determined to regain lost ground and make a strong comeback in the upcoming season.

In this exclusive conversation with Revsportz, Mukesh spoke about his performance in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, the work he put into his bowling during the break, the potential of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to become an all-format player, bowling alongside Shami and more.

Mukesh, you were named POTM against Central Zone. How do you look back on that performance in the Duleep Trophy semi-final?

Mukesh Kumar: It was a very good performance and a perfect team effort. After playing in the Ranji Trophy semi-final last season, I got the opportunity to play red-ball cricket again. It was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed it. I am happy with the performance.

How much will this performance motivate you going forward?

Mukesh Kumar: It will motivate me a lot. Last season, I started with the Duleep Trophy and unfortunately got injured on the same ground. I went to the Centre of Excellence, completed my rehabilitation, regained my fitness and received my fitness certificate before joining the Bengal squad for Ranji Trophy matches. However, I did not get to play many matches and could not showcase my performance. This season, I played my first match and made an impact. I am enjoying it a lot, and I want to carry this performance forward.

How was the experience of bowling with Mohammed Shami, who looked in great rhythm?

Mukesh Kumar: Bowling with Shami bhai is always a great opportunity because there is so much to learn from him—what he does and how he plans. We have been playing Ranji Trophy together since last season, so there is good coordination between us. We keep discussing what we can do with each delivery and what our plans should be. Whatever we do together is beneficial for both us and the team.

What areas did you work on your bowling during the break?

Mukesh Kumar: During the break, I worked on my fitness, line and length, and pace. You must have seen my consistency in the last IPL as I was hitting the same areas and maintaining my average speed. I worked a lot on those aspects. Now, I am just waiting for an opportunity. Whenever I get the chance, I will try to grab it.

You now have nine wickets in this edition of Duleep Trophy. What are your thoughts about the final against South Zone in Chennai?

Mukesh Kumar: First and foremost, we will have to adapt to the weather conditions because it will be hotter there. We will practise and then make our plan. It will depend on the situation. Once we reach Chennai, practice there and assess the conditions, we will know how to approach the match.

The upcoming Ranji Trophy season will be important for you, especially from the perspective of India selection. How do you see it?

Mukesh Kumar: Every Ranji Trophy season is important for every player. Last year, I was injured and could play only four matches. I have started this season well, so I am looking at the upcoming Ranji Trophy season as an opportunity. If I perform well, I will get my chance. Performance is the most important thing in a player’s career. It is what takes you to the top.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has largely been regarded as a white-ball player so far, but he impressed in the Duleep Trophy. Do you think it is unfair to label him as a one-format player?

Mukesh Kumar: You cannot label him that way. He was given an opportunity to play red-ball cricket and he has shown what he can do. He will continue to develop as a red-ball player, get more opportunities and prove that he can succeed in this format as well. The most important thing is that he should remain free-minded. I would tell him not to put pressure on himself or think that he has to do this or that. He should just focus on his game and continue playing the way he does. He has shown that he has the ability to be successful in any format.

What was it like sharing the dressing room with Vaibhav, who was also the vice-captain of East Zone?

Mukesh Kumar: He is very natural and still very much like a kid. On the ground, he enjoys himself, while in the dressing room he is quiet and focuses on his work. At the same time, he has a lot of fun. He was the vice-captain on the field, so we would speak to him and also discuss things with Abhimanyu (Easwaran). It is all part of the learning process. The more he plays, the more he will progress and the more he will understand the game.

Finally, what is the morale of the team ahead of the final?

Mukesh Kumar: Everyone is excited about the final—from the coach to the players. Everyone is really looking forward to it. It will be a special occasion for all of us. We will enjoy the moment and give our best in the final.

The post Exclusive: There is so much to learn from Shami bhai: Mukesh Kumar appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.