On September 3rd, the International Cricket Council announced the dates for the final of ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. The title decider of the 3rd edition will be played on June 11 to 15, 2025. The home of cricket, the iconic Lord’s Stadium in London has been named the host venue. The previous two finals were also played in England; Southampton (2021) and The Oval, London (2023).
Indian cricket team featured in the first two WTC finals; however, they didn’t achieve the desired result in either of them. New Zealand and Australia lifted the Test mace in 2021 and 2023, respectively. India are once again strong favorites to reach the final, as they currently top the points table after playing 9 games. The Rohit Sharma-led team is scheduled to play 10 more Test games under this WTC cycle.
This month, India will play two Tests against Bangladesh. In October-November, they will host New Zealand for 3 Tests, and then they will travel to Australia for a 5-match Test series from November to January. Australia are also favorites to end up as finalists, currently sitting in second place with a PCT (Points Percentage System) of 62.50, while India leads with 68.52. On the other hand, the chances of hosts England making it to Lord’s seem slim, as they have a PCT of 45.00 after their first 16 games and are left with only 6 more matches.
England vs India Test Series Will Begin 5 Days After WTC Final
Just five days after the conclusion of the ICC WTC 2023-25 cycle, India and England will begin their campaigns for the WTC 2025-27 with a 5-match Test series in England. The series is scheduled to start on June 20, 2025, and will conclude on July 31, 2025. This tight schedule highlights the demanding workload for the Indian cricket team, with the IPL concluding in May, followed by a two-month tour of England.
The final of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 edition will also take place in England. England is considered a neutral venue, as its balanced pitches offer opportunities for all departments of the game. In contrast, pitches in the Indian subcontinent are typically spin-friendly, while pitches ‘down under’ generally favor pace bowlers.