The 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has officially begun, following South Africa’s maiden WTC title win against Australia in the 2023–25 final held at Lord’s. This victory marked a significant milestone in Test cricket history, setting the stage for a fresh and competitive new cycle.
The 2025–27 cycle began with Bangladesh touring Sri Lanka from June to July 2025, featuring two Test matches alongside three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Throughout this cycle, teams will compete in a series of home and away matches, accumulating points to qualify for the WTC final.
This article outlines the WTC 2025–27 schedule, key fixtures, and insights into the intense competition ahead.
World Test Championship (WTC) – Overview
| Event | ICC World Test Championship |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
| Format | Test Cricket |
| Tournament Format | League and Final |
| Number of Teams | 9 |
| Number of Matches | 71 |
| Recent Champion | South Africa (WTC 2024-25) |
The World Test Championship (WTC) is the ICC’s premier competition to determine the best Test cricket team globally. Launched in 2019, it aims to bring more context and excitement to the longest format by having teams compete over a multi-year cycle.
Two editions have been completed so far — 2019-21 and 2023-25 — with the third cycle, 2025-27, now underway. Each cycle features the top nine Test-playing nations competing in bilateral series, earning points towards qualifying for the final.
The WTC has enhanced the significance of Test matches, providing fans with a clear championship structure and teams with a coveted trophy to chase.
World Test Championship 2025-27 Cycle – Schedule
The 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has commenced, initiating a new chapter in Test cricket.
The opening series features Sri Lanka hosting Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, which began on June 17, 2025, at the Galle International Stadium. This marks the first of 71 matches scheduled over the next two years, involving nine participating teams.
Each team will play six series—three at home and three away—culminating in the WTC final in June 2027.
The ICC has announced the Test series that are part of the World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, though the exact dates for some of the series are yet to be confirmed.
Below are some of the ongoing and upcoming Test series:
Confirmed Fixtures
The World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle is officially underway, with several series already locked in. The ICC has confirmed dates for a few early clashes, setting the tone for an intense battle across nations.
Below is the list of confirmed fixtures featuring Bangladesh, India, Australia, and the West Indies.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
- 1st Test: June 17–21, 2025, Galle
- 2nd Test: June 25–29, 2025, Colombo (SSC)
- ODIs: July 2–6, 2025
- T20Is: July 9–11, 2025
England vs India
- 1st Test: June 20–24, 2025, Headingley, Leeds
- 2nd Test: July 2–6, 2025, Edgbaston, Birmingham
- 3rd Test: July 10–14, 2025, Lord’s, London
- 4th Test: July 23–27, 2025, Old Trafford, Manchester
- 5th Test: July 31 – August 4, 2025, The Oval, London
West Indies vs Australia
- 1st Test: June 25–29, 2025, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
- 2nd Test: July 3–7, 2025, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad
- 3rd Test (Day-Night): July 12–16, 2025, Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
Future Test Series Planned By ICC
Alongside the confirmed series, several future programs are planned, with exact dates and details yet to be finalized.
The ICC will continue to announce and confirm these fixtures to ensure a well-structured and thrilling Test calendar over the coming years.
| Test Series | Number Of Matches |
|---|---|
| Pakistan vs South Africa | 2 |
| India vs West Indies | 2 |
| India vs South Africa | 2 |
| England vs New Zealand | 3 |
| West Indies vs Sri Lanka | 2 |
WTC 2025-27 Final
The cycle will culminate in the prestigious World Test Championship final scheduled for June 2027 at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London.
The top two teams based on points percentage will compete for the ultimate Test cricket title.
World Test Championship 2025-27 Points System
The World Test Championship 2025-27 operates on a points-based system, designed to reward consistent performance across all matches. Each series carries a total of 120 points, which are divided equally across the number of Tests in that series.
Teams earn points for wins, draws, ties, or abandoned matches, encouraging competitive play in every game. The points percentage—calculated as points won out of points contested—determines the teams’ rankings, with the top two advancing to the WTC final. This system promotes fairness across a series of varying lengths.
Below is the points table for the recently concluded WTC 2023–25 cycle:
| Position | Teams | Matches | Win | Loss | Draw | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SA | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 69.44 |
| 2 | AUS | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 154 | 67.54 |
| 3 | IND | 19 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 114 | 50.00 |
| 4 | NZ | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | ENG | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 6 | SL | 13 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 60 | 38.46 |
| 7 | BAN | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8 | WI | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 44 | 28.21 |
| 9 | PAK | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 47 | 27.98 |
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Conclusion: The ICC WTC 2025-27 Cycle Has Commenced And Is Underway!
The ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle has officially kicked off, promising two years of thrilling and high-quality Test cricket. With nine top Test nations competing across 71 matches, the battle for supremacy will be fierce and captivating.
The current points system ensures every match counts, pushing teams to deliver their best consistently. As fans eagerly follow key series like Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh and England vs India, anticipation builds toward the grand final at Lord’s in June 2027.
This cycle not only enhances the prestige of Test cricket but also strengthens its global appeal, setting the stage for unforgettable cricketing moments ahead.
