Indian cricket fans were eager to witness a World Test Championship (WTC) Final on their own soil but now they will have to wait even longer. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has apparently turned down an application from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host the high-profile Test tournament in India. England is set to remain the short-term and long-term destination for future WTC Finals instead.
England To Stage 2027, 2029, And 2031 Finals
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to finalize a new deal with the ICC, where the WTC Finals of 2027, 2029, and 2031 will be hosted in England, as reported by a story published in The Telegraph (UK). This would continue England’s run as the only host of all the WTC finals so far.
“English cricket is close to securing hosting rights for the next three WTC finals, despite India’s strong interest in bringing the event home,” the report in the Telegraph stated.
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The inaugural final in 2021 was staged in Southampton, followed by the 2023 edition at The Oval in London. Most recently, the 2025 WTC Final was held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, where South Africa lifted the championship.
“The decision is expected to be formalised at the ICC’s Annual Conference in Singapore next month, with preparations for the 2027 final to begin soon after the current edition concludes.”
BCCI’s Push for Rotating Host Nations Rejected
The BCCI had strongly advocated for the WTC Final to be rotated across different Test-playing countries with a view to taking the high-stakes showdown to other regions of the cricket world. But the ICC, led by Chairman Jay Shah, has decided to keep England as the fixed location for the next three finals on the grounds of a number of logistical and pragmatic considerations.
