Lord’s Faces ₹45 Crore Loss as India Misses WTC 2025 Final – Huge Setback!
Lord’s Cricket Ground the iconic venue known as the “Home of Cricket,” is expected to take a massive financial hit after India failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final. With defending champions Australia set to take on table-toppers South Africa, the absence of India has led to a significant decline in ticket demand, causing the organizers to reduce prices drastically.
Reports suggest that Lord’s will lose nearly ₹45 crore (approximately £4 million) in expected revenue due to India’s absence. This loss comes as a disappointment for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which had originally set premium ticket prices based on India’s massive fan following. The stadium, which can hold nearly 30,000 spectators, was initially expected to sell out, but with India out of the competition, demand has dropped significantly.
Massive Drop in Ticket Prices
Initially, ticket prices were set between £90 and £140, anticipating strong interest from Indian fans. However, once it became clear that India wouldn’t play in the final, the MCC was forced to reduce prices by nearly £50 per ticket. Fans who had already purchased tickets at higher rates have been refunded the difference.
The move to lower ticket prices was made to ensure a fuller stadium rather than having a sparsely populated venue for such a prestigious match. The WTC Final is a major event in the cricketing calendar, and organizers want to maintain a vibrant atmosphere, even without India’s participation.
India’s Unexpected WTC 2025 Exit
India was widely expected to qualify for the WTC 2025 Final after dominating the previous two cycles. However, their campaign took a dramatic turn after suffering a shocking 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand. This was followed by a 3-1 defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which ultimately crushed their chances.
With six defeats in their last eight Test matches, India’s WTC journey ended in disappointment. The team’s inconsistency, particularly in overseas conditions, proved costly in their bid to make it to their third consecutive WTC Final.
Australia vs South Africa – A Final Without India’s Star Power
While Australia vs South Africa is expected to be an intense battle, experts believe the absence of India will affect the global viewership and overall engagement levels. India’s matches in major ICC tournaments attract record-breaking TV ratings and streaming numbers, making them the biggest draw in world cricket.
Sponsors and broadcasters were hoping for an India vs Australia final, which would have brought in massive revenue from Indian advertisers. Without India, the commercial impact on broadcasters and streaming platforms could also be significant.
India Set for England Tour at Lord’s in July
Despite missing the WTC 2025 Final, India will return to Lord’s later in the year for their five-match Test series against England. The third Test of the series will be played at Lord’s from July 10-14, and ticket demand for this match remains high.
Fans who missed out on seeing India in the WTC Final will be eagerly waiting for this high-profile contest, where Rohit Sharma’s men will have a chance to redeem themselves on English soil.
