ICC Competitions

ICC World Test Championship (WTC)

The WTC has evolved since launch in 2019, with the points model moving to a percentage-of-points system during the pandemic, then standardizing from 2021 to 12 points for a win, 6 for a tie, 4 for a draw, plus over-rate penalties that have proved decisive in tight tables. Finals have been staged at neutral, marquee venues with a reserve day baked in to protect the showpiece. The 2021 final was in Southampton, 2023 at The Oval, and 2025 at Lord’s.

During the years, throughout the tournament's two-year duration, 69 games split across 27 series were planned for the league stage, from which the top two teams progressed to the championship game. Each team was slated for six series, with three at home & three away. There were two to five Test matches in each series. Each player took part in 12 to 22 games. Five days were allotted for each match's duration.

South Africa won the 2025 final at Lord’s, defeating Australia to lift the mace. That capped a cycle where consistency away from home mattered more than ever due to the PCT system.

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

Women’s ODIs have seen steady professionalization. In 2022 (The twelfth Women's Cricket World Cup) the New Zealand hosted a delayed 2021 event, with prize money lifted and production standards upgraded. On field, Australia were dominant, beating England in the Christchurch final (winning their 6th world cup title). Off field, the tournament benefitted from the ICC’s broader equal-prize-money policy announced in 2023, which set the tone for parity across global events.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

The 2024 edition, originally slated for Bangladesh, was shifted to the UAE due to Bangladesh’s political unrest, a rare mid-cycle venue change that compressed logistics yet delivered stable broadcast operations. Prize money rose again in line with the ICC’s equalization roadmap. In the final, New Zealand beat South Africa in Dubai, a breakthrough title for the White Ferns in the format.

Previous modern cycles have leaned on primetime Asian windows and free-to-air windows in select markets, helping women’s T20Is punch above weight in digital reach. That trend continued in 2024 with strong OTT carriage in South Asia via the ICC’s Indian rights partner.

Earlier, the eighth edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup competition took place in 2023. It took place in South Africa from February 10-26, 2023. The tournament concluded in Cape Town. After defeating the home team, South Africa, by 19 runs in the final match, Australia claimed their sixth and third straight title.

ICC Women’s Championship

The Championship expanded from 8 to 10 teams for the 2022-2025 cycle by adding Bangladesh and Ireland after the 2021 qualifier was abandoned due to Covid travel restrictions. Each side played eight 3-match series (home-away split), with hosts India plus the top five earning direct 2025 Women’s World Cup entry, and the rest heading to a qualifier. It’s a structural pillar that spread bilateral ODIs more evenly and created a transparent path to World Cups.

The 2022-2025 table finished with Australia leading on points, India and England close behind, underlining how league tables rather than knockout brackets govern this competition. That standings-based design has commercial value too, since it secures meaningful bilateral ODIs for broadcasters across the cycle.

The first ICC Women's Championship, a women's One Day International (WODI) cricket competition contested by eight sides, took place in 2014-2016. Australia, England, New Zealand, and the West Indies were the four teams that finished first and automatically qualified for the 2017 World Cup. In the 2017 World Cup Qualifier, the bottom four teams (South Africa, Pakistan, India, & Sri Lanka) competed against six qualifying teams for the final four spots in the World Cup.

In a series consisting of four or more WODIs, the championship consisted of only three pre-selected matches. The winner of the second ICC Women's Championship 2014-2016 was Australia. The runner-up was England.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

The 2024 tournament made history with USA-West Indies co-hosting, including a temporary New York stadium that drew both full houses and criticism for two-paced drop-in pitches. The USA’s Super Over upset of Pakistan was a seismic moment for associate cricket and for U.S. marketability. In India, digital consumption set records, with the final alone peaking above 50 million concurrent streams on Disney+ Hotstar. India beat South Africa in Bridgetown in the final, winning by 7 runs.

Commercially, the event validated primetime Asia slots and weekday double-headers, while also testing visa, travel, and venue-readiness protocols in a non-traditional market. Those lessons will shape future multi-country T20 WCs.

ICC Champions Trophy

It was first held as the ICC Knockout Tournament in 1998, and since then, it has taken place about every four years. In 2002, the trophy was renamed the Champions Trophy.

After an 8-year gap, the 2025 revival kept the classic 8-team, two-groups-into-semis format. Politics framed the event: India did not travel to Pakistan, so a hybrid model sent India’s games and the final to the UAE while the rest of the tournament ran in Pakistan. Broadcast reach stayed wide with Star Sports-Disney+ Hotstar in India among the primary partners. India won the 2025 title, defeating New Zealand in the Dubai final.

There were social and legal crosscurrents too: activist calls to boycott Afghanistan’s matches surfaced, with England’s game scrutinized, yet fixtures proceeded as scheduled after ECB review. Facility upgrades in Pakistan ahead of the event reflected the financial tailwinds the tournament brings to host boards.

ICC Women’s Champions Trophy

This is a brand-new tournament, not yet played. Announced in the ICC’s 2024-2031 cycle to create a women’s analogue to the men’s CT, the inaugural edition is slated for 2027 in Sri Lanka, T20I format, six teams, round-robin then final. Its creation dovetails with the ICC’s equality agenda on prize money and visibility, giving broadcasters another blue-ribbon women’s property between World Cups.

Because there is no past edition, there is no defending champion yet. Expect qualification to mirror women’s white-ball pathways and for staging to lean on Asian prime-time slots and digital-first distribution.

ICC Cricket World Cup

England, the only country at the time with the resources to organize an event of this size, hosted the first Cricket World Cup in 1975. On June 7, 1975, the competition got underway. The first tournament included eight teams: Australia, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, India, and the West Indies (then the six Test nations), as well as Sri Lanka and a combined East African squad. South Africa, which was barred from playing international cricket owing to apartheid, was one noticeable exclusion. The West Indies won the competition by defeating Australia.

The 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup, an ODI cricket competition held every four years between men's national teams and hosted by the International Cricket Council, took place in 2023. India 2023 was massive but imperfect. Ticketing drew criticism for late releases and queues, while Pakistan fans and several journalists faced visa denials, shaping crowd mix and news cycles. Australia beat India in the Ahmedabad final, and the tournament set global OTT concurrency highs in India, with the final peaking near 59 million on Hotstar and earlier knockout peaks above 50 million.

Commercially, the event underscored India’s outsized value: Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar leveraged shoulder programming and multilingual feeds, while global partners activated in-stadia across the largest cricket venue footprint in history. The mix of full houses for India games and thinner crowds for some neutral fixtures offered a clear signal to schedulers and sponsors about timing and venue selection.

A total of 13 Cricket World Cups have been played, including the ODI World Cup. The ODI World Cup is a 50-over cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The history and structure of India’s International ICC competition schedule are deeply rooted in the country's cricketing culture, shaped by various factors over the years. Initially, cricket schedules in India were largely influenced by the colonial legacy, with tours and competitions organized by the British, focusing primarily on Test matches. However, post-independence, India's cricketing calendar began to evolve, reflecting the country's growing love for the sport. The introduction of limited-overs cricket in the 1970s was a significant milestone, with the first ICC Cricket World Cup held in 1975. This event marked the beginning of a more structured and commercially viable international cricket schedule, with India soon becoming a key player in the global arena.

The scheduling of ICC events in India is meticulously managed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in coordination with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Over the years, the schedule has been influenced by various factors, including political events, such as India's economic liberalization in the 1990s, which brought in significant sponsorship and broadcasting deals. This period saw a surge in the popularity of One Day Internationals (ODIs) and the eventual rise of T20 cricket. The launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 further revolutionized the scheduling, with the BCCI balancing international commitments with the domestic T20 extravaganza, a task requiring precise planning to avoid conflicts.

Cultural and technological shifts have also played a crucial role in shaping the cricketing calendar. The advent of satellite television in the 1990s, led by broadcasters like Star Sports, transformed how cricket was consumed in India. Matches were now broadcast live across the country, reaching millions of homes and creating a massive fan base. This, in turn, influenced the scheduling of matches to maximize viewership during prime-time slots. Additionally, the rise of digital streaming platforms in the 2010s has further altered scheduling, with matches now available on-demand, catering to a global audience.

Gender inclusivity is another recent development in the structuring of the ICC schedule. The growing popularity of women’s cricket has seen the BCCI and ICC allocate more prime slots to women's matches, particularly for the ICC Women’s World Cup and T20 World Cup. This change reflects the broader social shift towards gender equality and the increasing marketability of women’s sports. Overall, the evolution of India’s international cricket schedule is a testament to the dynamic interplay of culture, technology, and commerce, making it a crucial aspect of the sport's growth in the country.

ICC World Test Championship (WTC)

The idea of an ICC World Test Championship was first proposed in 2009 to give greater context and meaning to Test cricket, the longest and purest form of the sport. It was approved by the ICC Board in 2013, with the first edition originally scheduled for 2017. Logistical issues and format difficulties caused delays, and the tournament finally began on August 1, 2019, with the opening match between England and Australia at Edgbaston, Birmingham. That inaugural edition involved nine Test-playing nations, each playing six series (three home and three away) across two years, with points awarded for match and series results.

The first final was staged in June 2021 at The Rose Bowl in Southampton after being relocated from Lord’s due to COVID-19 restrictions. India met New Zealand, and New Zealand became the inaugural champions. The second edition ran from August 2021 to June 2023 under a revised points system that awarded 12 points for a win, 6 for a tie, and 4 for a draw, with percentage-of-points determining the table. Australia defeated India in the 2023 final at The Oval to claim their maiden title.

The third cycle, covering 2023 to 2025, featured nine teams once again and introduced minor refinements to over-rate penalties that proved decisive in close standings. The final was played at Lord’s in June 2025, where South Africa defeated Australia to lift their first World Test Championship mace. The current cycle (2025-2027) began in mid-2025 and will culminate in a final scheduled at Lord’s in June 2027, continuing with the same 12-6-4 points allocation system and percentage table format.

ICC Cricket World Cup

The ODI World Cup is a 50-over cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which brings together the top cricketing nations in the world to compete for the title of world champions. The first ODI World Cup was held in 1975, and since then, the tournament has been held regularly, with a few exceptions. Here is a brief history of the ODI World Cup:

1. 1975 - The first ODI World Cup was held in England, featuring 8 teams. The West Indies emerged as the champions, defeating Australia in the final.
2. 1979 - The second ODI World Cup was also held in England and featured the same 8 teams as the first edition. The West Indies retained their title, defeating England in the final.
3. 1983 - The third ODI World Cup was held in England for the third time and featured 8 teams once again. India surprised everyone by winning the tournament, defeating the West Indies in the final.
4. 1987 - The fourth ODI World Cup was held in India and Pakistan and featured 8 teams. Australia emerged as the champions, defeating England in the final.
5. 1992 - The fifth ODI World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand and featured 9 teams. Pakistan won the tournament, defeating England in the final.
6. 1996 - The sixth ODI World Cup was held in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and featured 12 teams. Sri Lanka emerged as the champions, defeating Australia in the final.
7. 1999 - The seventh ODI World Cup was held in England and featured 12 teams. Australia won the tournament, defeating Pakistan in the final.
8. 2003 - The eighth ODI World Cup was held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya and featured 14 teams. Australia won the tournament again, defeating India in the final.
9. 2007 - The ninth ODI World Cup was held in the West Indies and featured 16 teams. Australia won the tournament for the third consecutive time, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
10. 2011 - The tenth ODI World Cup was held in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh and featured 14 teams. India won the tournament, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
11. 2015 - The eleventh ODI World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand and featured 14 teams. Australia won the tournament for the fifth time, defeating New Zealand in the final.
12. 2019 - The twelfth ODI World Cup was held in England and Wales and featured 10 teams. England won the tournament for the first time, defeating New Zealand in the final.
13. 2023 - The 13th ODI World Cup was scheduled to be held in India in 2023. Australia won the World Cup by defeating India in the final.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

The T20 World Cup is a Twenty20 International cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The tournament brings together the top cricketing nations in the world to compete for the title of T20 World Champions. Here is a brief history of the T20 World Cup:

1. 2007 - The first T20 World Cup was held in South Africa and featured 12 teams. India emerged as the champions, defeating Pakistan in the final.
2. 2009 - The second T20 World Cup was held in England and featured 12 teams. Pakistan won the tournament, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
3. 2010 - The third T20 World Cup was held in the West Indies and featured 12 teams. England won the tournament, defeating Australia in the final.
4. 2012 - The fourth T20 World Cup was held in Sri Lanka and featured 12 teams. West Indies emerged as the champions, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
5. 2014 - The fifth T20 World Cup was held in Bangladesh and featured 16 teams. Sri Lanka won the tournament, defeating India in the final.
6. 2016 - The sixth T20 World Cup was held in India and featured 16 teams. West Indies won the tournament for the second time, defeating England in the final.
7. 2021 - The seventh T20 World Cup was held in the United Arab Emirates and Oman and featured 16 teams. The tournament was won by the West Indies for the third time, defeating England in the final.
8. 2022 - The 8th T20 World Cup was scheduled to be held in Australia in 2022. England won the T20 World Cup by defeating Pakistan.
9. 2024 - The 9th T20 World Cup was scheduled to be held in West Indies and America in 2024. England won the T20 World Cup by 7 runs by defeating South Africa.

ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC Champions Trophy was a Day International cricket tournament that was held every two years between the top eight cricketing nations in the world. The tournament was first held in 1998 as the ICC Knockout Trophy and was later renamed the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002. The tournament was last held in 2017, and its future remains uncertain due to the ICC's decision to replace it with the World Test Championship. Here is a brief history of the ICC Champions Trophy:

1. 1998 - The first ICC Knockout Trophy was held in Bangladesh and featured nine teams. South Africa emerged as the champions, defeating the West Indies in the final.
2. 2000 - The second ICC Knockout Trophy was held in Kenya and featured ten teams. New Zealand won the tournament, defeating India in the final.
3. 2002 - The third edition of the tournament was renamed the ICC Champions Trophy and was held in Sri Lanka. India won the tournament, defeating the hosts in the final.
4. 2004 - The fourth ICC Champions Trophy was held in England and featured twelve teams. West Indies won the tournament, defeating England in the final.
5. 2006 - The fifth ICC Champions Trophy was held in India and featured ten teams. Australia won the tournament, defeating the West Indies in the final.
6. 2009 - The sixth ICC Champions Trophy was held in South Africa and featured eight teams. Australia won the tournament, defeating New Zealand in the final.
7. 2013 - The seventh ICC Champions Trophy was held in England and Wales and featured eight teams. India won the tournament, defeating England in the final.
8. 2017 - The eighth and final edition of the tournament was held in England and Wales and featured eight teams. Pakistan won the tournament, defeating India in the final.
9. 2025 - The ninth edition of the tournament was co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE in a hybrid model, with India’s matches and the final staged in Dubai. India won the trophy, defeating New Zealand in the final.

Overall, Australia and India has won the ICC Champions Trophy twice, while, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, and Pakistan have won it once each.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was introduced in 2009, becoming the first global tournament for women in the shortest format. At the start, it was staged every two years, mirroring the men’s version, but later shifted to a four-year cycle to balance the international calendar. Early editions were linked with the men’s event, often played in the same host nation and timeframe, which gave it immediate visibility but also meant it was overshadowed.

Over time, the women’s tournament found its own identity, drawing landmark attendances such as the 2020 Melbourne Cricket Ground final that set a world record for women’s sport with more than 86,000 spectators. The structure has seen adjustments, including the expansion of participating teams from eight to ten and then twelve, alongside a qualification pathway that has allowed smaller nations like Thailand to appear on the global stage. The shift to equal prize money in 2023 marked a cultural and financial milestone, aligning the tournament fully with the ICC’s broader equality agenda.

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

When a group from England visited Australia and New Zealand in 1934, women's international cricket was played for the first time. England won the inaugural Test match, which took place on December 28-31, 1934. The first Test of the next year was against New Zealand. When South Africa played many matches against England in 1960, these three countries were the only ones playing Test cricket for women. In 1962, English first-class teams played their first game of limited-overs cricket. Men's cricket saw its first international one-day match nine years later at Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and England.

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup has a longer and deeper history, first played officially in 1973 in England, making it older than the men’s version. Initially funded through private sponsorship and donations, it lacked ICC backing in its earliest years but still attracted international participation, with England winning the first title. Over time, the event moved into the ICC’s official portfolio, gaining greater financial security and global reach. The format has shifted from round-robin structures in the early decades to group stages and knockouts, with the number of teams varying between eight and twelve depending on qualification systems. Notable milestones include Australia’s run of dominance with multiple titles, India’s breakthrough appearances in finals that drove unprecedented television audiences, and the gradual professionalization of women’s cricket that turned what was once an underfunded competition into a premium broadcast product.

ICC Women’s Champions Trophy

The Women’s Champions Trophy is the newest creation in this landscape, designed as a mirror to the men’s event. Announced as part of the ICC’s 2024-2031 cycle, it is scheduled to debut in 2027 in Sri Lanka, with a compact structure of six teams playing a round-robin followed by a final. The idea stems from the success of the men’s Champions Trophy as a short, high-quality event, and the ICC has positioned it as a way to give the women’s game an additional global platform between World Cups. While it has no history yet, its very existence marks a milestone in institutional recognition, showing how far women’s cricket has come from being an afterthought in ICC planning to receiving a nearly identical events calendar. Its format and size suggest it will aim for intensity and marketability, condensing elite competition into a television-friendly package.

ICC Women's Championship

The Women’s Championship, which functions as the ODI league for women’s international cricket, was introduced in 2014 to bring structure and purpose to bilateral ODIs. Previously, fixtures were often sporadic, with top teams playing regularly but emerging sides rarely finding opportunities. Under the new system, each nation played a set number of series across a multi-year cycle, with results determining direct qualification for the Women’s Cricket World Cup.

The first cycles included eight teams, but by 2022 the league expanded to ten with Bangladesh and Ireland gaining full participation, which in turn ensured that more women cricketers had regular exposure to top-level competition. The Championship has played a crucial role in balancing competitiveness, as even series between mid-tier teams now have a clear impact on global standings. From a cultural and financial perspective, it also gave broadcasters and sponsors a league-based narrative that was easier to package and sell, while giving fans consistent storylines leading into World Cups.

India’s relationship with ICC competitions has never been just about trophies, it has been about shaping the identity of the sport itself. From the breakthrough of 1983 that changed the way one-day cricket was perceived, to the drama of T20 World Cups that brought a new generation into stadiums and in front of screens, these events have reflected both India’s rise and cricket’s global transformation. The Women’s Cricket World Cup, first played in 1973, even predates the men’s event and remains a reminder of how deep the game’s roots run, while the Women’s T20 World Cup has grown into one of the fastest-expanding tournaments in the ICC calendar. Each of these competitions carries more than results: they are markers of cultural shifts, moments of national pride, and chapters in a story that stretches across generations.

The ICC’s creation of structured leagues and global trophies has also changed the rhythm of international cricket. The World Test Championship gave long series a defined goal, turning scattered rivalries into a single race for the mace. The Women’s Championship ensured that every ODI series had purpose, driving growth in nations where opportunities were once limited. The Champions Trophy, often seen as the most intense tournament because of its compact format, has a history of delivering upsets and reviving old rivalries, while the flagship men’s and women’s World Cups continue to set records in attendance and viewership. For Indian fans, these competitions are more than just fixtures on a calendar, they are the arenas where history is written and where the spirit of the game is renewed.

Betting on ICC Competitions

Cricket in India is more than a sport, it is a way of life, and nothing captures the imagination quite like the official ICC competitions. From the drama of World Cups and T20 showdowns to the prestige of the World Test Championship and the growing influence of women’s tournaments, these events bring together the biggest stages for the Indian national team. For many fans, following the matches is not enough - the thrill is multiplied when placing bets on outcomes, players, or even tournament milestones. Betting on ICC competitions has become one of the most exciting ways to engage with cricket, and it can be done safely and easily if you know where to play.

A common question is often raised: is it legal to bet on ICC cricket tournaments in India? The answer is both simple and clear. While gambling laws in India are state-regulated, and only a few states such as Goa, Sikkim, and Daman have fully licensed casinos, online cricket betting is not directly prohibited by national law. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 does not cover internet betting, meaning Indian users are free to place wagers with international sportsbooks that accept players from India. This legal gray area has opened the door for millions of fans to bet responsibly on ICC events through secure platforms.

Another key question is: how can fans ensure they are betting in the right place? The safest option is to choose international sportsbooks that are licensed and well-reviewed, offering clear terms and fair odds. IndiaBetMaster.com provides exactly that - with detailed coverage of all ICC competitions, reviews of top-rated betting brands, and information in both English and Hindi to make sure fans have everything they need at their fingertips. With each World Cup cycle, every Champions Trophy battle, and every Test Championship final, Indian fans now have the opportunity to add another layer of excitement to the game they love, knowing they can participate confidently and responsibly.