In the fourth edition of the World Test Championship, India will play 18 matches between 2025 and early 2027.
For the first time, a World Test Championship final will be played without India in it: they played the summit clash in 2019-21 as well as in 2021-23, losing on both occasions.
They have themselves to blame for it. India were heading the table going into the home series against New Zealand last year. However, a 0-3 whitewash which ended their dominant 12-year run at home jeopardised their qualification equations. The 1-3 loss in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy was the final nail in the coffin for their campaign in the 2023-25 cycle.
Australia have now joined South Africa to play the title decider at Lord’s between June 11 and 15.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate Virat Kohli's performances in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) January 5, 2025
Check our ratings here ➡️https://t.co/HWxOrL6aqo pic.twitter.com/G2FBUpBOza
The series defeat in Australia not only knocked them out of the competition but also ended their 10-year unbeaten streak in the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
For the next cycle set to run between 2025 and 2027, India are expected to go through a transition. While their cheat code at home R Ashwin has called time on his illustrious career recently, questions are being raised on captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s place in the Test team owing to their prolonged poor form.
England vs India, June-August 2025 (Five Tests)
Their first assignment in the upcoming World Test Championship will be a five-match series against England. India last toured the country in 2021. They were 2-1 ahead when the fifth Test was postponed barely a few hours before its scheduled start due to COVID-19 concerns in their camp. They returned to play the match in July 2022 but lost it, ending the series with a scoreline of 2-2.
India vs West Indies, October 2025 (Two Tests)
After the away tour, India will host West Indies in a two-match Test series at home. The BCCI is yet to finalise the schedule but it is likely to take place in October. The hosts are favourites given they last lost a Test and a series against the opposition way back in 2002.
India vs South Africa, November-December 2025 (Two Tests)
India’s next assignment of WTC 2025-27 is a two-match home series against South Africa in November-December 2025. In their most recent clash in January last year, India beat South Africa in Cape Town to level the series 1-1 in the shortest-ever decided Test in terms of overs bowled. But with the Proteas currently topping the table in the ongoing WTC, it promises to be no easy task.
Sri Lanka vs India, August 2026 (Two Tests)
After hosting the T20 World Cup earlier in 2026, India will fly out to Sri Lanka in August to play two Test matches. Given the conditions imitate the surfaces in India, there shouldn’t be much of a problem for the tourists despite it being an away series.
New Zealand vs India, October-December 2026 (Two Tests)
They will conclude the year with a two-match series in New Zealand, against whom they have a score to settle, having lost the 2021 final and the recent home series, which largely contributed to their ouster from the 2023-25 edition.
India vs Australia, January-February 2027 (Five Tests)
The two-time finalists will conclude the cycle with a five-match Test series against Australia in early 2027. Like the previous editions, it will be a cracker of a series with both sides expected to fight a neck-and-neck battle.
India's 2025-27 WTC schedule
June-August 2025: Five Tests v England (A)
October 2025: Two Tests v West Indies (H)
November-December 2025: Two Tests v South Africa (H)
Mid 2026: Two Tests v Sri Lanka (A)
Late 2026: Two Tests v New Zealand (A)
Early 2027: Five Tests v Australia (H)
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