ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta declared on December 11, 2025, that the World Test Championship (WTC) final has “definitely delivered” on its original promise of creating a true pinnacle event for Test cricket, successfully giving context and meaning to bilateral series across a two-year cycle. Speaking at the announcement of a global partnership with AB InBev India (Budweiser 0.0) in Mumbai, Gupta highlighted the packed stands at Lord's for the 2025 final between Australia and South Africa—despite the absence of traditional heavyweights India and hosts England—as a landmark moment for the format. “Lord’s was packed, which means we now have a pinnacle event in Test cricket that the world waits for,” he said, underlining how the championship has elevated the significance of every Test match played in the preceding years.
Gupta explained that the WTC was conceived to address the longstanding criticism that bilateral Test series often lacked narrative weight in an era dominated by limited-overs tournaments. “What the World Test Championship final attempts to do, beyond just being a five-plus-one-day event where the two best teams compete for the greatest prize in the format, is to give context to the two years of Test cricket that precedes that final,” he noted. The three editions completed so far—won by New Zealand (2021), Australia (2023), and South Africa (2025)—have seen India finish runners-up twice, yet the 2025 final’s full house at the Home of Cricket demonstrated that fan interest now transcends traditional rivalries.
The CEO pointed to the six months leading up to each final as evidence of the championship’s broader impact, with global conversations revolving around qualification scenarios, points tables, and percentage calculations. This sustained anticipation, he argued, has injected fresh relevance into otherwise standalone series, compelling teams to treat every match as a step toward the ultimate prize. The packed Lord’s for a non-India, non-England final illustrated that the WTC mace itself has become a coveted trophy that fans worldwide recognize and celebrate.
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With the 2025-27 cycle already underway and India currently leading the standings, Gupta’s remarks reinforce the ICC’s commitment to Test cricket’s longevity amid growing T20 leagues. The championship’s structure—rewarding consistency across home and away conditions—continues to evolve, with discussions ongoing about potential tweaks to the points system for greater fairness.
As the next final looms in June 2027, Gupta’s assessment signals confidence that the WTC has matured into a cornerstone of the longest format, ensuring bilateral Test cricket remains compelling in a crowded calendar.
The growing global appetite for the decider, even without marquee teams, validates the ICC’s decade-long effort to crown an undisputed Test champion and secure the format’s future against shorter, flashier alternatives.
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