“For teams like us, it’s only a distraction” - When Virat Kohli shot down the importance of WTC final in 2021

Team India star Virat Kohli has never been sold on the narrative that the World Test Championship (WTC) final would provide context to the format. As South Africa and Australia play the 2025 WTC final at Lord's, starting today (June 11), it is worth revisiting Kohli's views on the tournament.

Even as India was all but through to the inaugural WTC final in 2021, the experienced batter believed it mattered only for teams not motivated to play Test cricket.

Talking about the WTC final three months before the game in 2021, Kohli said (via ESPN Cricinfo):

"If you want me to be brutally honest, it might work for teams who are not that motivated to play Test cricket. Teams like us, who are motivated to play Test cricket and want to win Test matches and keep Indian cricket team at the top of the world in Test cricket, we have no issues whatsoever, whether it's a World Test Championship or not. I think for teams like us, it's only a distraction when you start thinking of the World Test Championship."

Despite topping the 2021 WTC points table, India lost the summit clash to New Zealand by eight wickets.

Team India is still searching for the elusive WTC title

Team India continued to dominate Test cricket despite the heartbreak of the WTC 2021 final against the Black Caps. They finished in the top two in the 2021-23 cycle and qualified for the final against Australia.

However, the side suffered a massive 209-run defeat to the Aussies in the WTC 2023 final. They could not make it a hat-trick of WTC final qualifications in the 2025-27 cycle, missing out on a top-two finish.

Kohli has struggled in his two WTC finals, averaging only 30 with no half-centuries in four innings.

India were on course for another final appearance until back-to-back series defeats to New Zealand and Australia ended their hopes. It meant South Africa and Australia finished in the top two and will play for the trophy in the 2025 WTC finale.

A win for the Proteas will mean their first ICC title since the 1998 Champions Trophy and the second overall. An Aussie victory will mean a third ICC title in the last two years after their 2023 WTC and ODI World Cup triumphs.