"Lord's is not a....": Ravi Shastri orders ICC to shift WTC Finals from England to Ahmedabad
Published - 29 Jun 2025, 02:04 PM
Table of Contents
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final has already found a home in England, but former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes that it is time to think bigger. However, Ravi Shastri admitted that the Lord’s has added prestige to the one-off WTC title clash, but he feels this marquee game could be played in front of packed stadiums as well.
With the WTC final still growing in global appeal, the former Indian captain has noted that England and Lord’s were the perfect launching venue for the ICC World Test Championship, as this historic venue guarantees a passionate crowd regardless of which teams are playing.
Ravi Shastri pushes for WTC Final in Ahmedabad or MCG to boost global appeal
But the celebrated broadcaster believes that once the WTC Final builds the hype it truly deserves around the world, it should move to the big cricket stadiums like Melbourne and Ahmedabad to draw massive crowds and make the event popular.
Read Also: Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets angry in nets over broken bat, brutally scolds teammate
Ravi Shastri suggested that stadiums like the 100,000-seater Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia and the 132,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which is the biggest cricket stadium in the world, can be the perfect venue for the WTC Final to increase global attention.
MCG and Ahmedabad can be a great place for the World Test Championship Final: Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri was quoted as saying by the Wisden Cricket podcast, “I think to start off initially, it’s good if it’s here (Lord’s) actually. Once it gets the popularity and eyebrows it deserves, then it can start shifting. But I think the MCG can be a great place for a World Test Championship Final.”
The former Indian coach further noted, “Ahmedabad can be a great place for the WTC Final. Basically, the places where you can draw a crowd. Because Lord’s is not a 100,000-seater stadium. So, irrespective of which team is playing, you know you will get a good crowd.”
Read Also: Watch: Freak incident in MLC 2025 as Jason Holder brutally hits stumps, but Shayan Jahangir survives
Notably, the last three WTC finals have all been hosted in England. The first final clash saw India fall short against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. In 2023, Australia crushed India at The Oval to lift the WTC mace.
And earlier this month, cricket history was made at Lord’s as South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, ended a 27-year ICC trophy drought with a stunning five-wicket win over Australia.
England set to Host WTC Finals till 2031, BCCI’s bid rejected by ICC
On the other hand, it is being said that England could continue to be the go-to venue for the World Test Championship (WTC) finals for the next two cycles. As per the ICC’s Future Tours Program, the 2027 WTC Final is already locked in for Lord’s, with finals in 2029 and 2031 also likely to be held in England.
The BCCI had shown interest in hosting the 2027 WTC Final in India, but their bid was reportedly turned down. The ICC seems to prefer England due to its consistent crowd turnout and strong support for neutral Test matches, making it a reliable choice for the biggest clash in Test cricket.
About the Author
Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ... Read more
