India captain Rohit Sharma questions WTC Final schedule

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma has questioned the schedule and venue for the ICC WTC Final.

The Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that the future WTC final should be played outside England and could be scheduled in some other month, not necessarily in June.

The Indian captain was asked whether playing WTC final right after the Indian Premier League is tricky.

"Why after the IPL final? Why cannot it be March? June is not the only month we should play the final," Rohit said.

Adding more, Rohit Sharma said that the tournament can be played anywhere in the world at any time of the year.

"It can be played any time of the year and anywhere in the world, not just in England, it can be played anywhere in the world," he added.

India had suffered their second successive loss in the WTC final. Their first loss came against New Zealand in June 2021. New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets in a rain-affected final. The game was played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Notably, 2025 final is also scheduled to be played at the Lord's.

Three-match series would be ideal: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma also stressed about best-of-three series to decide the WTC winner, instead of just one game.

"I would love that [a three-match final]," Rohit said, before questioning the tight schedule.

"But is there a time? That's the big question. Honestly, in a big event like this you need to have fair opportunities for both the teams," he added.

He went on to add that the three-match series is all about finding the right window for scheduling.

"A three-match series would be nice but it's about finding that window, where it can fit in. An event like this you work hard for two years and then you only have one shot at it. It's not really - you cannot get into that momentum that you need in Test cricket. Test cricket is all about finding that rhythm, finding that momentum as well. I think yeah, if in the next cycle, if it is possible, three-match series would be ideal," he added.

Earlier, in 2021, Virat Kohli also stressed about having a three-match series instead of one game to decide the winner.

"If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests - which team has the ability to come back in the series, or totally blow away the other team. It can't just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don't believe in it," he said after the 2021 WTC Final loss.