The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly set to stage the World Test Championship (WTC) Final in England for the following three editions, 2027, 2029, and 2031, rejecting the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) bid to host the premier event.
Since its inception in 2019, the WTC has crowned two champions: New Zealand in 2021 at Southampton and Australia in 2023 at The Oval. The current 2025 final between Australia and South Africa is taking place at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. While the finals have received high viewership and ticket sales, the BCCI has consistently requested that the final be rotated among various cricket-playing nations.
According to The Telegraph UK, the ICC has already informed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that it intends to continue hosting the WTC finals in England for the following three cycles.
This decision is apparently made despite India’s genuine desire and negotiations about perhaps rotating the location across cricketing nations.
“English cricket is on the verge of agreeing to host the next three World Test Championship finals, despite India’s bid to host the tournament. The World Test Championship (WTC) began in 2019 and has completed three two-year cycles, each culminating in a final in England in June. The decision is expected to be confirmed at the ICC’s Annual Conference in Singapore next month, but the ECB is expected to start arranging the 2027 edition of the WTC final as soon as the current one, between Australia and South Africa, ends,” according to the source.
Rohit-Cummins’ voice opinions for the rotation of WTC Final venues
Rohit had voiced his concerns after India’s defeat in the 2023 WTC final, questioning why the final must always be played in June in England, especially right after the Indian Premier League (IPL). Australia’s Pat Cummins was also in favour of the rotating venues decision ahead of the 2025 final. He requested that the WTC final could be hosted by the defending champions or rotated globally.
However, considering the strong commercial incentives and logistical convenience, ICC has decided to keep the WTC finals in England. Planning for the 2027 edition is expected to begin soon after the conclusion of the ongoing final. Interestingly, while England has hosted all three WTC finals so far, the national team has never qualified for any of them.
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