India's Road to WTC 2025-27: Tough Matches Ahead

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As the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle approaches its conclusion, it appeared almost certain that India would secure a place at Lord’s for their third consecutive appearance in the WTC final. However, a surprising 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand put their prospects in jeopardy, and a subsequent 3-1 loss in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ultimately eliminated them from contention for the final.

India is likely to feel immense disappointment over these developments, having lost six of their last eight Test matches and managing only a single victory, which resulted in their failure to qualify for the finals. Moving forward, the focus will shift to the future: the upcoming 2025-27 WTC cycle, which is set to commence later this year.

In this new WTC campaign, India will participate in a total of 18 Test matches, eager to overcome the disappointment of their recent performance. The campaign will kick off with a highly anticipated five-match series in England during the summer of 2025 for the Pataudi Trophy. India had a successful outing in England during their last visit, but they will face a formidable Bazball team that thrives in home conditions.

Following this, India will host two separate two-match Test series in October and November 2025, welcoming West Indies and South Africa, although the specific venues have yet to be determined. India will aim to re-establish their dominance at home, potentially facing the WTC champions if South Africa manages to triumph over Australia.

After a brief hiatus from Test cricket, India will travel to Sri Lanka for two matches in August 2026. The schedule will then intensify, as India is expected to visit New Zealand for a two-match series aimed at avenging their earlier defeats, tentatively planned between October and December.

Subsequently, India will return home to host Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series during the first two months of 2027, with the clear objective of reclaiming the trophy after losing it for the first time in a decade in the recently concluded series.

Some fans may be disappointed to see India play teams such as South Africa and New Zealand only twice, with those usually being extremely entertaining games. The headliners, however, will be the five-match series that bookend India’s WTC schedule, beginning in England and ending at home vs Australia in just over two years.