Not long ago, it was reported that the BCCI is considering hosting the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the 2025-27 cycle in India.
In 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the concept of WTC to popularize Test cricket. England have hosted the two finals so far while the title clash of the third edition is currently taking place at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Meanwhile, a recent report published in The Telegraph claims that the ICC has thwarted India’s ambitions to host the WTC Final, with England in line to stage the next three WTC finals.
India will have to at least wait for eight more years to host the WTC Final since the latest decision, if true, will give England the hosting rights till the 2029-31 season.
The report further stated that the hosting rights decision will be confirmed during July’s ICC Annual Conference in Singapore. England Cricket Board (ECB) officials have been informed of ICC’s wishes as well.
BCCI has expressed interest in hosting the WTC Final multiple times over the last six years. But despite India’s growing influence on world cricket and former BCCI secretary Jay Shah taking charge as the ICC chairman in December 2024, England remain the frontrunner to host the next three finals.
“History and prestige mean Lord’s will be the strong favourite to host the game again in 2027, but conversations over exactly where it is played remain at a nascent stage. London, being a global travel hub, makes the capital the natural choice, but more northerly venues could come into contention," the report reads.
England have hosted the first two editions of the World Test Championship finals so far in 2021 and 2023 at Southampton and the Oval.
According to reports, discussions to host the 2027 WTC Final were held during the ICC’s chief executives committee meeting in Zimbabwe in April, where BCCI was represented by IPL chairman Arun Dhumal.
“If India reaches the next WTC final, then it will be a great spectacle for the fans. Even otherwise (if India does not feature in the final), a match involving two other top teams will have a lot of takers," a source was quoted as saying.
