Former India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri said that Lord’s Stadium in London is a great place to host the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. The recent WTC Final between Australia and South Africa was played there, and South Africa won. Lord’s is one of the most famous cricket grounds and usually fills up for international matches, even neutral ones.
Ravi Shastri identifies two venues, including one in India, that could make the WTC Final more electrifying.
However, Shastri pointed out that it doesn’t have space for 100,000 fans like two other stadiums he mentioned – including one in India – which could attract even bigger crowds.
England has hosted the last three World Test Championship (WTC) Finals, and now the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and others are interested in hosting one of the future finals. Even though England hasn’t played in any of these finals, the stadiums were still full.
Ravi Shastri backs Narendra Modi Stadium
Ravi Shastri believes that as the WTC Final becomes more popular around the world, holding it at a bigger stadium like the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia or the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – both of which can seat over 100,000 people – would help make the event even more popular.
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“I think to start off initially, it’s good if it’s here (Lord’s) actually. Once it gets the popularity and eyebrows it deserves, then it can start shifting. But I think the MCG can be a great place for a World Test Championship Final. Ahmedabad can be a great place for the WTC Final.”
“Basically, the places where you can draw a crowd. Because Lord’s is not a 100,000-seater stadium. So, irrespective of which team is playing, you know you will get a good crowd,” Ravi Shastri said while speaking on a Wisden Cricket podcast.
Meanwhile, several reports say that England might continue to host the next two World Test Championship (WTC) Finals in 2029 and 2031. According to the ICC’s Future Tours Program, the 2027 WTC Final is already set to be held at Lord’s.
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