Former Indian Coach Does Not Want WTC Final to be Played in India

The World Test Championship in June or July has to be in England. You cannot play it anywhere else.

By DTD- On Jun 24, 2025

MUMBAI: The future staging of the World Test Championship (WTC) final has recently become a topic of debate, with many in cricketing circles calling for the match to be played in India due to its status as the commercial hub. However, that idea has not sat well with one of the most influential voices in cricket, Ravi Shastri.

Speaking with Sky Sports ahead of the final day of the first Test match between India and England—where the WTC Final has been staged for three years in a row and will continue to be—Shastri argued against India getting the hosting duties for future WTC finals.

“The World Test Championship in June or July has to be in England. You cannot play it anywhere else. And just for the occasion, I think Lord’s. Don’t go anywhere else in England, keep it at Lord’s. You’ll find that teams would want to reach there,” Ravi Shastri said. “It will be a sell-out irrespective of the teams that are playing,” he added.

England has hosted all three WTC finals since the tournament’s inauguration, with Rose Bowl, The Oval, and Lord’s hosting the matches. England will also likely host the next three WTC finals as well.

India’s argument for hosting the Test Championship decider in their backyard stems from their ability to bring commercial value to the event. However, Shastri, who coached India during the inaugural WTC cycle and their 2021 final loss to New Zealand, believes fans will not be interested in the game if India fails to qualify for the final, as happened this year.

The former Indian captain isn’t the only one to hold such views, as his fellow countryman Dinesh Karthik agreed with Shastri during the same segment.

While their comments are likely to stir debate among fans and pundits alike, the excitement of the past three WTC finals may turn the tide in England’s favour for future events as well.

The 2025-27 WTC cycle has begun with a bang both on and off the field, and for cricket fans across the globe, it can only mean non-stop action for the next two years.