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Last Updated:June 29, 2025, 15:27 is

Ravi Shastri suggests the Narendra Modi Stadium for the World Test Championship final and supports Shubman Gill as India’s Test captain for the next three years.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri wants the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to be considered as a venue for the future World Test Championship (WTC) final. Shastri feels the Indian ground, alongside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia, because of its one lakh-plus seating capacity, could create a brilliant spectacle once the International Cricket Council (ICC) decides to move from Lord’sin  England.

So far, all three WTC finals have been played in England — the Rose Bowl in Southampton, the Oval in London and the recent South Africa-Australia clash at Lord’s in London again. The ICC has attributed it to pleasant weather conditions in June-July. According to some reports, India had pushed to host one of the future editions but it was turned down because the ICC wants to keep the next three finals in England.

Shastri understood the importance of keeping it in England at the start but suggested that he’d like a change soon.

“I think to start off initially, it’s good if it’s here (Lord’s) actually. Once it gets the popularity and eyebrows it deserves, then it can start shifting. But I think the MCG can be a great place for a World Test Championship Final. Ahmedabad can be a great place for the WTC Final. Basically, the places where you can draw a crowd. Because Lord’s is not a 100,000-seater stadium. So, irrespective of which team is playing, you know you will get a good crowd,” Shastri said during a Wisden podcast.

In the same interview, Shastri also offered his backing to new Test skipper Shubman Gill, saying the BCCI should at least stick with him for the next three years.

“He’s matured a lot. The way he handles the media, the way he talks at press conferences, at tosses—he’s matured a lot. Let him be there for three years. Don’t chop and change irrespective of what happens in the series. Stick with him for three years, and I think he will deliver for you,” he added.

Gill’s Test captaincy career started with a defeat to England at Headingley. The second Test of the five-match series begins on Wednesday (July 2).

Cricketnext Staff

A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext

A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext

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