Explained: Why DY Patil became Women's World Cup final host instead of Narendra Modi Stadium

Navi Mumbai (Source: AP Photos)

The Women’s World Cup 2025 has been marred by rain as several of the matches in Sri Lanka were washed out, and this affected the outcome of the league stage games. Moreover, the final of the tournament was also affected as the toss was delayed and the fans were left in frustration. The DY Patil in Navi Mumbai got the opportunity to host the grand finale, but so far, things have looked gloomy.

Unlike the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which has a top-notch drainage system, the DY Patil Stadium doesn’t have the same quality, as the match outcome could be affected due to it. So, the question arises, with Narendra Modi Stadium available for the finals, why was the marquee finale not hosted by the world’s biggest stadium?.

Why DY Patil Stadium hosted the finals instead of Narendra Modi Stadium?

Unlike the Narendra Modi Stadium, the DY Patil has a rich history of hosting Women’s matches in India, and it is a crowd-puller, as witnessed in the semifinals between India and Australia. The stadium has a capacity of 45,300, and the finale was sold out, showcasing the love for Women’s cricket in Mumbai.

As witnessed in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the love for women’s cricket is different in the city, and people used to come in large numbers to attend the matches of India’s marquee event. Moreover, a lot of India's bilateral games are played at the venue, and hence, the organizers knew that the stadium will be full during the entire World Cup.

The Narendra Modi Stadium is better in terms of infrastructure and new technologies; however, the stadium lacks a cricketing vibe, as witnessed in the World Cup 2023 finals. The stadium has a capacity of well over 1 lakh, but the vibes that DY Patil Stadium produces cannot be matches by any other venue.

---

ALSO READ

What is final cut-off time for rain-marred India vs South Africa Women's World Cup final?

---