MCC to face lose of 45 crores due to absence of India in WTC final

The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final is set to take place between Australia and South Africa from June 11-15 at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. However, India's absence from the summit clash has dealt a significant financial blow to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which could lose up to £4 million (approximately Rs 45.08 crore) in revenue.

According to reports, MCC had originally set ticket prices at a premium rate, expecting high demand from Indian fans. However, with India failing to qualify, demand has dropped considerably. To avoid a sparsely populated stadium, MCC has reduced ticket prices by £50 (around Rs 5633) per ticket, making them more affordable to cricket enthusiasts.

“Anticipating India's participation, Lord's had originally priced tickets at premium rates, confident that the demand from Indian cricket supporters would outstrip supply. However, once it became clear that India would not feature in the final, MCC opted to lower ticket prices,” reports stated. The new ticket prices now range between £40 and £90, a move aimed at ensuring a fuller stadium.

India was in contention for a third consecutive WTC final appearance but suffered setbacks that derailed their journey. The Rohit Sharma-led team first endured a shocking 0-3 home series defeat against New Zealand, marking their first home Test series loss since 2012-13. They were then outplayed by Australia 1-3 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ending their hopes of making the final.

Despite this financial setback for MCC, Lord’s is set to host another major Test later this year, when India faces England in July. Unlike the WTC final, ticket sales for the first four days of the India-England Test have already been sold out, highlighting the strong financial influence of Indian cricket worldwide.

India’s absence from the WTC final underscores their dominance in global cricket viewership and fan engagement. With a massive overseas following, India’s participation in marquee events often translates into higher revenue for host venues, broadcasters, and sponsors. This year’s WTC final at Lord’s will be an interesting test to see how much crowd interest can be generated without the Men in Blue.