Bad news for India; WTC Final venues set till 2031

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made a primary decision on the next three Final venues of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), and it is surely not good news for Indian cricket. 

The ICC has awarded England to host the next three ICC WTC Finals, which will be played in 2027, 2029, and 2031. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) successfully hosted the first three WTC Finals. Southampton hosted the inaugural WTC Final in 2021, where New Zealand won the first WTC mace after beating India in the Final.

The Oval hosted the second WTC Final between India and Australia in 2023, and Australia won that mace. Last June, Lord's hosted the third WTC Final (2025), where South Africa faced the defending champions and won the mace for the first time to end their 26-year drought of an ICC trophy.  

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Next 3 ICC WTC Finals: India and other nations once again ignored

As the ECB successfully hosted the first three WTC finals, it is no shocker that the ICC has awarded the next three WTC Finals to them. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was interested in organising any of the next WTC Finals, but it seems far away from the dream.  

The ICC officially stated, "The Board also confirmed the awarding of hosting rights for the ICC World Test Championship Finals for the 2027, 2029, and 2031 editions to the England and Wales Cricket Board, following a successful track record in hosting recent finals."

Lord's has already been planned for the WTC Final 2027. So, the latest ICC meeting has brought the decision of the hosting nation for the ICC WTC Final 2029 and 2031. 

Why has England been preferred for the WTC Finals?

While the WTC Final has generally been played in June, England is one of the best places to host it at this time. Meanwhile, June is a rainy season for most of the Indian states, which makes it tougher for the country to host the big tournament.