ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is under pressure to allow India to replace Australia in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) Final, following India’s Champions Trophy victory.
Despite Australia qualifying for the final through two years of consistent Test performances, sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) argue that India’s recent white-ball success should grant them automatic entry. The push has gained momentum within the ICC, which has faced longstanding criticism for operating in the interests of Indian cricket.
The decision ultimately rests with ICC chairman Jay Shah. Shah is widely regarded as the most powerful Indian in world cricket, if not the world itself.
“If Kamala Harris had won the US election, she would have been the second-most powerful Indian, behind Jay Shah,” said a senior cricket administrator familiar with the discussions.
While India remains a dominant force in limited-overs cricket, critics argue that they lack the consistency and tactical discipline required for Test success. Australia’s fast bowlers, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, have routinely exposed India’s batting lineup, leading many to suggest that the Indian team is, in fact, Australia’s son.
“Virat Kohli is the biological son of every Australian fast bowler,” one analyst noted.
“The entire Indian Test squad is eligible for Australian citizenship through their fathers, who all currently play for the Australian Test team.”
The ICC has not confirmed whether it will grant India’s request, though reports suggest the WTC Final may be relocated to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad if the move is approved.
More to come.
