The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is a prestigious biennial tournament organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to determine the world's top Test cricket team. Spanning two-year cycles, the WTC aims to add context and excitement to the game's longest format.
The inaugural edition commenced with the 2019 Ashes series and culminated in June 2021, with New Zealand clinching the title after defeating India in the final. The second edition began on August 4, 2021, featuring the England–India series, and concluded in June 2023, with Australia emerging victorious over India.
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🏆🇿🇦
— ICC (@ICC) June 14, 2025
South Africa take home the 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐞 👏#WTC25 #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/Yy4C4AQEO7
South Africa clinched the 2023–25 World Test Championship title by beating Australia in the final at Lord’s. Chasing a target of 282, the Proteas triumphed by five wickets, thanks to Aiden Markram’s unbeaten century and a vital partnership with skipper Temba Bavuma that sealed their historic win.
Check Out| ICC World Test Championship Final 2025: Check Date, Time, Venue, Teams And More
| Attribute | Details |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
| Format | Test cricket |
| First Edition | 2019–2021 |
| Latest Edition | 2023–2025 |
| Next Edition | 2025–2027 |
| Tournament Format | League stage and Final |
| Number of Teams | 9 |
List of WTC Winners: Year-Wise Champions and Results
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is a premier Test cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Launched in 2019, it follows a league and final format, featuring nine teams.
The latest edition (2023-2025) will conclude with the final in 2025, with the next cycle starting in 2025-2027. Here’s the list of the WTC winners from 2019 till now.
| Year(s) | Winner | Runner-Up | Result | Venue |
| 2019-2021 | New Zealand | India | Won by 8 wickets | Rose Bowl, Southampton |
| 2021-2023 | Australia | India | Won by 209 runs | The Oval, London |
| 2023-2025 | South Africa | Australia | Won by 5 wickets | Lord's, London |
2019–2021 Tournament
The first WTC tournament began with the 2019 Ashes series. In March 2020, matches were suspended due to COVID-19. Games resumed in July 2020, but some were postponed or cancelled.
New Zealand was the first team to reach the final after Australia’s series against South Africa was called off. India also qualified.
The final was played from 18 to 23 June 2021 at Rose Bowl, Southampton. Rain disrupted play on two days, but New Zealand won on the reserve day, becoming the first WTC champions.
2021–2023 Tournament
The second WTC cycle started in August 2021 with the Pataudi Trophy between India and England. The ICC introduced a new points system. Australia secured their place in the final after winning the third Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India qualified after Sri Lanka failed to win against New Zealand. The final took place from 7 to 11 June 2023 at The Oval, London. Australia defeated India by 209 runs, winning their first WTC title.
2023–2025 Tournament
The third WTC cycle started on 16 June 2023 with the first Ashes Test. The ICC announced that the final will be held at Lord’s in the summer of 2025. South Africa claimed the 2023–25 World Test Championship crown by defeating Australia in the 2025 final at Lord’s.
Chasing 282, the Proteas secured victory with five wickets in hand, powered by Aiden Markram’s unbeaten century and captain Temba Bavuma’s crucial support.
How Many ICC Trophies Have Been Won by South Africa?
South Africa has won two senior ICC trophies in men’s cricket:
- 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy – South Africa’s first and only white-ball title, triumphing over the West Indies in the final.
- 2025 World Test Championship Final – They broke their long ICC title drought by beating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s
Who was the 2023-2025 WTC Player of the Match?
Aiden Markram was rightly named Player of the Match after a sensational performance in the World Test Championship final. He humbled Australia with match figures of 1/5 in both innings, and his dominant unbeaten 136 anchored South Africa’s successful chase of 282 at Lord’s. Composed yet determined, Markram defied a potent Australian attack, notably forging a crucial 147-run partnership with skipper Temba Bavuma.
Upcoming Final (2023-2025)
- Teams: Australia vs. South Africa
- Venue: Lord's, London
- Dates: June 11-15, 2025
Key Performances
- 2019-2021: Kane Williamson led New Zealand to victory, with Kyle Jamieson being the Player of the Match.
- 2021-2023: Pat Cummins captained Australia, with Travis Head awarded Player of the Match for his century.
The ICC World Test Championship has been held since 2019, with each cycle lasting two years and culminating in a final match between the top two teams in the standings. The tournament aims to add structure and excitement to Test cricket, the longest format of the game.
When is the Next ICC World Test Championship Event?
The next ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is scheduled to take place from June 2025 to June 2027. Here are some key details about the upcoming event:
2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship Overview
- Format: The tournament will feature 27 series and 71 matches in the league stage. Each team will play six series, with three at home and three away, and each series will contain between two and five Test matches.
- Teams: The nine full-member teams of the ICC will participate: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.
- Points System: The points system remains unchanged from previous editions:
- Win: 12 points
- Tie: 6 points each
- Draw: 4 points each
- Loss: 0 points
Teams will be ranked based on the percentage of total points won.
India schedule for WTC 2025-27 Series
After a disappointing finish to their 2023-25 campaign, India is ready to regroup and aim for redemption in the fourth edition of this prestigious tournament. With the WTC final scheduled for June 11–15, India’s new journey will begin shortly after. Here are all the details you need to know.
| Series | Opponent | Venue | Schedule |
| 1 | England | Away | June 20-24, 2025 – Headingley, Leeds July 2-6, 2025—Edgbaston, Birmingham July 10-14, 2025 – Lord’s, London July 23-27, 2025 – Old Trafford, Manchester July 31-August 4, 2025—The Oval, London |
| 2 | West Indies | Home | October 2025 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 3 | South Africa | Home | November-December 2025 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | Away | August 2026 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 5 | New Zealand | Away | October-November 2026 (Exact dates TBD) |
| 6 | Australia | Home | January-February 2027 (Exact dates TBD) |
WTC 2025-2027: Schedule & Results
According to ESPN, here is the complete schedule for the first three Australia-West Indies Test series in 2025:
| Date | Match | Venue | Teams | Time (IST) | Time (GMT) | Time (Local) | Status |
| Wed, 25 Jun 2025 | 1st Test | Bridgetown | West Indies vs Australia | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Match yet to begin |
| Thu, 03 Jul 2025 | 2nd Test | St George's | West Indies vs Australia | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Match yet to begin |
| Sat, 12 Jul 2025 | 3rd Test | Kingston | West Indies vs Australia | 8:30 PM | 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Match yet to begin |
India’s High-Stakes Test Series in England 2025
India's 2025 campaign kicks off with a thrilling five-match Test series in England. Running from June 20 to August 4, this high-stakes clash will renew the historic rivalry that ended in a 2-2 draw during India's 2021 tour. With games at legendary venues like Lord’s and The Oval, India will face the challenge of swing-friendly conditions, a long-standing test of their skills.
Final Match
The final match of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship is scheduled to take place at Lord's Cricket Ground in June 2027.
What's Next| ICC WTC Points Table (2023-2025): Latest World Test Championship Standings and Ranking
