India Likely to Host 2027 WTC Final, BCCI to Bid for Venue Rights

India may soon host the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 final. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to bid for the hosting rights. According to reports, the BCCI will make a formal proposal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the coming days. So far, all WTC finals have been held in England. The first WTC final in 2021 was played at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The second one took place at The Oval in 2023. The upcoming third final will also be held in England, at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground next month. This time, the final will be between Australia and South Africa.
Previously, many Indian cricketers have questioned England’s monopoly over the WTC final venue. In 2023, India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma raised his voice against it. He was unhappy that the final was held in June after the IPL season. Rohit said the WTC final should not be limited to one country or one time of the year. “Why always after the IPL? Why can’t the final be in March? It doesn’t always have to be in June or in England. It can happen anywhere in the world,” Rohit had said during a press interaction.

India to become WTC Final 2027 Host?

Now, India wants to change that trend. The BCCI showed interest in hosting the 2027 final during an ICC meeting held in Zimbabwe last month. The ICC’s Chief Executives Committee discussed the matter, and BCCI shared its plans there. However, the ICC has some serious concerns. One of the biggest issues is the current political tension between India and Pakistan. The two countries have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13. Their last Test series was back in 2007. Due to strained relations, India refused to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

If Pakistan qualifies for the 2027 WTC final, and the final is held in India, the situation could become complicated. Pakistan may refuse to travel to India. At the same time, India may also refuse to play against Pakistan. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir recently made a strong statement about this. “My personal opinion is no. Until everything stops, there should be no cricket match between India and Pakistan. No game is more important than Indian lives,” Gambhir said after the terror attack in Pahalgam.
In case of such a standoff, the ICC may be forced to shift the final to a neutral venue. But that could bring new problems and extra costs.
Another worry for the ICC is ticket sales. In England, WTC finals have drawn large crowds. Even though England has not reached a final yet, ticket sales have been excellent. The 2023 final at The Oval was sold out, and the upcoming final at Lord’s is also sold out for the first four days. But if the 2027 final is held in India and the Indian team does not qualify, the ICC fears poor attendance. Cricket fans in India are very passionate, but most of them prefer watching India play

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WTC Final 2027 Host: Possible Venues in India

Despite the concerns, the BCCI is keen on bringing the WTC final to Indian soil. If their bid is successful, it will be the first time India hosts the most important match in Test cricket. Notably, Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium seems to be one of the top contenders in India to host the WTC 2027 final, considering its capacity and facilities. Moreover, Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai can also host the marquee event, considering their enriched history in the format. For now, all eyes are on the ICC, which will soon decide the host for the 2027 WTC final. Will India get the hosting rights? Or will the WTC final continue to stay in England? The answer may come soon.