India’s failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final has dealt a significant financial blow to Lord’s, with the iconic venue expected to lose nearly £4 million in revenue.
The much-anticipated five-day clash, set to take place in June, will now feature Australia and South Africa, instead of India, whose presence has historically driven massive ticket sales and viewership.
According to a report in a media agency, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) had initially planned for a financial windfall, anticipating India’s qualification.
However, with Rohit Sharma’s team failing to secure a spot, MCC was forced to revise ticket prices, reducing them significantly to ensure attendance.
The impact underscores India’s immense influence on global cricket revenue.
India had been in contention for most of the WTC cycle but slipped to third place after a disappointing 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand, followed by a 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
These results ended their hopes of a third consecutive WTC final appearance.
Initially, MCC had priced tickets at a premium, expecting a surge in demand had India made it to the final.
However, with India’s absence, prices were reduced by approximately £50 per ticket, now ranging between £40 and £90, to adjust for the lower expected turnout.
MCC has faced similar challenges before. Last year, during England’s Test series against Sri Lanka, only 9,000 spectators attended the fourth day of a match, prompting criticism over high ticket prices.
Learning from that experience, the club made strategic adjustments this time to ensure better attendance despite India’s absence.
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