Even though Team India failed to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, they still walked away with a massive reward — a whopping $1.44 million, which converts to ₹12.32 crore. Surprisingly, this sum is almost equal to what the winners of the last two editions, New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023), had received.
This financial windfall has surprised many fans, especially considering India didn’t make it to the final this time around. But the reason lies in the ICC’s expanded WTC prize purse, a move meant to elevate the prestige of Test cricket.
ICC Increases WTC Prize Money to $10 Million
In a major boost to the traditional format, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the total prize pool for the 2023–2025 WTC cycle would be increased to $10 million, with $3.6 million earmarked for the champion alone. This is more than double the amount awarded in previous editions.
In 2021 and 2023:
The winners received $1.6 million.
The runners-up earned $800,000.
This time, even teams lower down the points table are being generously rewarded. India, finishing third, got $1.44 million, while the ninth-placed team, Pakistan, still took home $480,000 — a substantial incentive for all participating nations.
India’s Journey in the WTC 2023-25 Cycle
India had been one of the strongest contenders to reach their third consecutive WTC final, having finished runners-up in both 2021 and 2023. For a major part of the 2023-25 cycle, India led the points table and looked poised for yet another Lord’s appearance.
However, two key series losses derailed their campaign:
A 3-1 loss to Australia in an away series.
A shock 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand — a result that stunned cricket fans worldwide.
Despite these setbacks, India ended the cycle with a 50.00 percentage point tally, finishing behind:
South Africa (69.44%)
Australia (67.54%)
Finalists: Australia vs South Africa
The WTC final, scheduled for June 11 at Lord’s, will see Australia — the defending champions — take on South Africa, who are eyeing their first WTC title. Australia has the chance to become the first team to defend the WTC title, having beaten India in 2023 at the same venue.
Here's the complete prize money breakdown:
| Position | Team | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Australia/South Africa | $3,600,000 |
| 2nd | Australia/South Africa | $2,160,000 |
| 3rd | India | $1,440,000 |
| 4th | New Zealand | $1,200,000 |
| 5th | England | $960,000 |
| 6th | Sri Lanka | $840,000 |
| 7th | Bangladesh | $720,000 |
| 8th | West Indies | $600,000 |
| 9th | Pakistan | $480,000 |
ICC’s Focus on Reviving Test Cricket
The ICC’s decision to ramp up the WTC prize pool is part of a larger strategy to reinvigorate interest in Test cricket, especially as shorter formats like T20s and franchise leagues dominate global attention.
In a statement, the ICC noted:
“The increase in prize money exhibits the ICC’s efforts to prioritise Test cricket as it looks to build on the momentum of the first three cycles of the nine-team competition.”
This is especially significant in the current cricketing climate, where Test matches are often sidelined due to scheduling conflicts and lack of financial incentive.
A Moral Win for India?
Even though India missed the final, their ₹12.32 crore earnings can be seen as a consolation prize — if not a moral victory — for consistently performing across cycles. This also shows how commercially valuable Indian cricket remains on the global stage, both in terms of performance and revenue generation.
More importantly, it’s a message to Indian fans: the journey continues, and the team remains a dominant force in world cricket.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
The WTC has brought a much-needed structure and context to Test cricket. While India’s dream of a third straight final didn’t materialize, the financial reward underscores their standing in the format. With younger players stepping up and experienced names still around, India’s next WTC cycle could well be their most dominant yet.
For now, fans will watch closely as Australia and South Africa battle it out at Lord’s. But for Indian cricket followers, there’s already a silver lining — both in prestige and prize money.
