After hosting the last two World Test Championship (WTC) finals — and the third set to take place at Lord’s this June — England has been the go-to venue for cricket’s biggest Test showdown. But that could soon change. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has thrown its hat in the ring, expressing strong interest in hosting the 2027 WTC Final on home soil.
As reported by The Guardian, the BCCI officially voiced its intention to bid for the final during last month’s ICC Chief Executives Committee meeting in Zimbabwe. Representing India at the meeting was BCCI CEO Arun Singh Dhumal, while Jay Shah — his predecessor — currently chairs the ICC. With that level of influence, a formal Indian bid could carry significant weight. Or as The Guardian put it, it may well be a "fait accompli."
England’s Rose Bowl hosted the first-ever WTC final in 2021 between India and New Zealand. That was followed by The Oval’s staging of the 2023 decider, where Australia toppled India. This year’s final, again featuring Australia — this time against South Africa — will take place at Lord’s from June 11 to 25. All signs point to another packed house, with tickets for the first four days already sold out. While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hasn’t expected to host the WTC final forever, the English summer and its reliable ticket market — no matter which teams qualify — make it a safe and attractive option. That’s why the ECB is keen to get clarity on the 2027 hosting rights quickly. If England doesn’t get the final, the board will need time to schedule another home Test to fill the gap in their calendar.
But India’s bid throws a few spanners into the works. One concern reportedly raised by the ICC is ticket sales. While cricket pulls massive TV audiences in India, stadium attendance has been more unpredictable. The ICC fears that if India fails to reach the final in 2027, the crowd turnout in India could be underwhelming — a stark contrast to packed venues in England, even without the home side involved.
Then there’s the ever-present political backdrop. With tensions between India and Pakistan still high — especially in the wake of previous airstrikes and worsening diplomatic ties — any scenario involving Pakistan reaching the final brings a fresh set of headaches. Recent precedents show how tricky this could get. For instance, the India-Pakistan standoff over the 2025 Champions Trophy led to an understanding that any game between the two sides would be shifted to a neutral venue, regardless of the host. That policy now applies to upcoming tournaments like the Women’s World Cup in India and the 2026 T20 World Cup, which India is co-hosting with Sri Lanka.
So, if Pakistan does make it to the 2027 final and the match is scheduled in India, the ICC might be forced into a last-minute switch — something that could be both logistically and politically messy.
Amid all this venue talk, one thing remains unchanged: the WTC format. Despite some proposals to split the championship into two divisions, the ICC has decided to stick with the current structure — a nine-team, single-division format — for the 2025-27 cycle. And the new cycle will begin in style. Just five days after the 2025 final wraps up at Lord’s, England and India will lock horns in a much-anticipated five-Test series starting June 20.
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