London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground is projected to experience a revenue shortfall of approximately Rs 45 crore, according to reports. This financial impact is attributed to the Indian cricket team not reaching the final of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC).
The WTC final is scheduled to be held at Lord’s from June 11-15, featuring Australia and South Africa. India’s defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy prevented them from competing in their third consecutive WTC final.
Initially, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owner of Lord’s, set premium ticket prices, expecting strong demand from Indian fans. However, with India’s absence, these expectations have been revised.
A report indicates that the MCC believed the presence of India would lead to high ticket sales, justifying the premium pricing. The significant financial influence of Indian cricket on the global stage is highlighted by this situation.
In response to lower than anticipated demand, MCC has reportedly reduced ticket prices by around 50 pounds (approximately Rs 5633) per ticket. This adjustment aims to ensure a well-attended stadium rather than a sparsely filled venue with expensive tickets.
The report further explains that Lord’s decided to adjust ticket prices for the WTC final this year. Tickets are now priced between 40 and 90 pounds, roughly 50 pounds less than the original prices, directly reflecting the anticipated revenue loss.
Lord’s is also set to host a Test match between India and England in July, for which the first four days are already sold out, demonstrating continued interest in cricket at the venue.
India was considered a strong contender for the WTC final but suffered crucial series defeats that ultimately prevented their qualification.
The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, experienced a surprising 0-3 defeat at home against New Zealand. This was their first home Test series loss since 2012-13.
Adding to their challenges, India was also defeated by Australia (1-3) in a five-match Test series.
