Defending champions South Africa face an uphill battle in their 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle as their path to the final is far tougher this time compared to their last campaign.
The last World Test Championship saw South Africa end their 27-year wait for an ICC trophy by defeating Australia by five wickets in the final at Lord’s.
In the previous cycle, South Africa played six two-match Test series. Their toughest overseas challenge came against New Zealand, where they lost 0-2 after fielding a second-string squad, with regulars unavailable due to the SA20 league. Their other away tours were against Bangladesh and the West Indies.
While Asian conditions often prove difficult for SENA teams, South Africa overcame this hurdle with a 2-0 clean sweep in Bangladesh after edging the West Indies 1-0. At home, their toughest assignment was against India, where they secured a 1-1 draw. This was their only series against a 'Big Three' side, leading to debates that their path to the final – and eventual title – was relatively easier compared to other contenders.
An incredible day with the fans at Nelson Mandela Square! 🇿🇦
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 19, 2025
Our ICC World Test Champions brought the celebrations to the people, proudly parading the ICC Test Mace in a moment of unity and national pride. 🏏🏆 #WTCFinal #WozaNawe #ProteasWTCFinal pic.twitter.com/p4Zxoegzx1
Also read: South Africa coach dismisses ‘Big Three’ concept following WTC victory
However, the same cannot be said this time, as the world champions are set to face tougher opponents in more challenging conditions during their 2025–27 cycle
Who will South Africa play in the 2025–27 World Test Championship?
2 Tests vs Pakistan (Away) - October 2025
2 Tests vs India (Away) - November 2025
3 Tests vs Australia (Home) - September 2026
2 Tests vs Bangladesh (Home) - November 2026
3 Tests vs England (Home) - December 2026
2 Tests vs Sri Lanka (Away) - February 2027
Why South Africa’s title defence could be impossible
Tougher away tours
With no home Test matches in 18 months, South Africa play two away matches each against Pakistan and India first. Their home international Test summer begins in September 2026 with a three-Test series against Australia, followed by a two-match and a three-match series against Bangladesh and England, respectively, all at home. They finish with a third subcontinent tour of the cycle – this time against Sri Lanka.
Among their four subcontinent Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, winning even two would require a significant effort. While South Africa have historically had success against Pakistan in Test cricket, they suffered a 0-2 whitewash in their last away tour in 2021. One of their two away wins in Pakistan came way back in 2007 in Lahore. In Sri Lanka, the record isn’t inspiring either, with them losing 0-2 last time in 2019. Pakistan's struggles, finishing bottom of the 2023-25 World Test Championship table, will give the Proteas some hope, as will their 2-0 win in Bangladesh.
The two Tests against India in November will be South Africa’s toughest challenge. While India suffered their first home series defeat since 2012 in their final round of Test matches of their last home international summer, against New Zealand, a repeat of such an upset is highly unlikely, given India’s historical dominance at home. Moreover, South Africa were routed 0-3 during their 2019 tour of India.
No respite at home as well
They face six challenging home matches – three each against Australia and England – alongside a two-Test series against Bangladesh. While they triumphed over Australia in the WTC final and claimed a 3-1 home series victory in 2018, a clean-sweep at home would be a surprise. England pose an even stiffer challenge, having remained unbeaten in series in South Africa since 2000. This makes the Bangladesh series pivotal: a 2-0 sweep could prove essential to keeping their WTC campaign on track
To summarise these plausible scenarios: A 2-1 home win against England, 2-1 against Australia, a 2-0 sweep of Bangladesh, a 0-2 away loss to India, and two wins from four Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan would yield a decent but likely insufficient return. This would leave South Africa with a 57 points percentage (PCT) – below the historical threshold for WTC finals. The lowest PCT to ever qualify was India’s 58.8 in the 2021–23 cycle.
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