The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle has entered its final phase, with several teams vying for a spot in the grand finale.
ICC has announced that the WTC Final will take place from June 11 to 15, 2025, with June 16 set as a reserve day. The match will be held at the iconic Lord's stadium in London, selected as the venue for the one-off Test.
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The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final will see the top two teams from the WTC points table at the conclusion of the cycle. Currently, India holds the top spot, followed by reigning champions Australia in second place.
As per the latest standings, New Zealand (third), England (fourth), Sri Lanka (fifth), South Africa (sixth), and Bangladesh (seventh) remain in contention for a place in the one-off final.
Let's take a look at the teams currently positioned as the top contenders for a spot in the WTC Final.
India: Rohit Sharma-led Team India, currently sitting at the top of the WTC standings, remains the leading contender to reach the WTC Final for a third consecutive time. In the inaugural WTC Final in 2021 at Southampton, India was defeated by New Zealand. In 2023, India made it to the final again at The Oval but fell short against Australia.
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Australia: Defending WTC champions Australia also have a strong chance of reaching the WTC Final for the second time. There's a high possibility that fans could witness a repeat of the previous edition's final, with India and Australia facing off once again. Their path to the WTC Final is well within reach, with a potential best finish of 76.32%.
New Zealand: The 2021 WTC champions, New Zealand, have great potential to make the WTC final. However, they face significant challenges, particularly in their upcoming away series in India and the home series against England, which will be crucial to securing their spot in the final.