International Cricket Council CEO Sanjog Gupta has said that, despite the absence of star Indian cricketers or the local English players, the 2025 World Test Championship final showed that fans are engaging
with the sport in large numbers, with Lord’s packed for the showdown between Australia and South Africa.
After featuring in two consecutive finals, India failed to qualify for the 2025 edition of the tournament. Australia came in to defend their title, while South Africa were the first-timers, and went on to win the title.
Gupta said that the strong turnout at Lord’s proved that the World Test Championship final has sparked genuine fan interest, becoming an event they now anticipate just like other major tournaments.
“The last World Test Championship final was played between Australia and South Africa in England and Lord’s was packed,” Gupta said while speaking at an event in Mumbai.
“India wasn’t playing, England wasn’t playing, (but) Australia was taking on South Africa and Lord’s was packed, which means that we now have a pinnacle event in Tests which the world waits for, or the world that enjoys Tests waits for,” Gupta added.
Gupta said that the growing anticipation among fans in the months leading up to the final also strengthens the broader storytelling around Tests.
“The other thing that it did was, in the six months leading up to the World Test Championship final, the entire narrative was around who would feature and that gives additional meaning, context and significance to the bilateral Tests that are being played in the lead-up to that World Test Championship final,” Gupta said.
The ICC CEO noted that a full house at Lord’s for the previous final between Australia and South Africa, even without India or hosts England, marked a significant milestone for the governing body.
“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 Tests that precede that final,” Gupta said.
