India’s WTC 2025-27 Test Odyssey: Full Schedule, Key Clashes, and New Leadership Era

Image Source: Cricket Australia

International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the full calendar of ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, setting the stage for a thrilling two-year battle with 71 games among nine nations. For India, it is about a fresh start with Shubman Gill at the helm, with high-profile away and home series that can make or break Indian Test cricket.

Key Highlights:

India's WTC 2025-27 Calendar

Total Tests: 18 India will host 18 test matches in the cycle, half of which will be home and half away series.
New Leadership: Shubman Gill is appointed as the Test captain with Rishabh Pant as his vice-captain, marking the end of the Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli era.
No Pakistan or Bangladesh Games: India won't be hosting Pakistan or Bangladesh in this round.

India's Series Breakdown

Away Tours:

England: Five-Test blockbuster series starts India's tour (June–August 2025) on legendary venues like Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
Sri Lanka: Two-Test series in August 2026.
New Zealand: Two-Test series in October-November 2026.

Home Series:

West Indies: Two-Test series in Oct 2025.
South Africa: November–December 2025 Two-Test series (Kolkata and Guwahati games).
Australia: Five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home (January–February 2027), a likely decider for WTC final qualification.

Other Interesting Facts

WTC Final: The top two sides will face each other at London's Lord's in June 2027.
Transition Watch: This decade may witness the Test farewell to players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Australia and England: Australia possess the greatest number of Tests (22), with 21 for England, with the Ashes coming later in 2025 in Australia.

Full India WTC Schedule 2025-27 (Series-wise)

June to August 2025: India will tour England for a five-Test series. All matches will be played in the UK.
October 2025: India will host the West Indies for a two-Test series at home.
November to December 2025: India will play a two-Test home series against South Africa.
August 2026: India will travel to Sri Lanka for a two-Test away series.
October to November 2026: India will visit New Zealand for a two-Test away series.
January to February 2027: India will host Australia for a high-profile five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at home.

The Road Ahead India's campaign starts off with a proving ground challenge in England and ends with the high-intensity Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home. A mix of new leadership and the farewell swan song of legends, India's WTC campaign promises drama, transformation and high stakes. "India launch their campaign with a demanding five-Test tour of England—a rivalry at high stakes… Shubman Gill starts his Test captaincy stint, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. A statement win here would be India's foundation stone for the rest of the cycle."

Source: Times of India, NDTV Sports, Indian Express, MyKhel, News18