Team India hit by major blow ahead of new WTC cycle

Team India faces a significant setback at the start of the new WTC cycle with the sudden Test retirements of star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, ushering in a new era under captain Shubman Gill.

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Team India hit by major blow ahead of new WTC cycle

According to a report published in the Telegraph UK, the World Test Championship 2027 Final is unlikely to be shifted out of England. Notably, there were calls from former Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Australian Test captain Pat Cummins on having the final outside England.

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The report further mentioned that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has already informed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of their intention to host the WTC Final in England for the next three windows.

"English cricket is close to agreeing to host the next three World Test Championship finals despite an attempt from India to stage the showpiece event. The World Test Championship (WTC) began in 2019 and has run three two-year cycles, all of which concluded with a final in England in June," the report said.

It’s important to note that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed its desire to host the WTC summit clash in India. However, the final decision is expected to come out at the ICC Annual Conference in Singapore in July 2025.

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Most likely, England will get the seal of approval for the next three editions (2027, 2029, and 2031) to host the showpiece event’s summit clash. Despite hosting three WTC finals, England have failed to make it to the summit clash event once.

"It is expected that the decision will be rubber-stamped at the ICC's Annual Conference in Singapore next month, but the ECB are expected to begin planning the 2027 edition of the WTC final promptly after the current one, between Australia and South Africa, ends," the report added.

Speaking about the WTC 2025 Final between Australia and South Africa at the Lord's in London, the Proteas side are inching closer to lift the silverware after they were short of only 69 runs at stumps on Day 3.

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