India ICC WTC final qualification scenario: India lost their first home Test series 2012 as they went down in Bengaluru and Pune against Tom Latham’s New Zealand, who have taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match Test series with one game to go.
This is New Zealand’s first Test series win in India, whose 18-series winning streak at home has been shattered.
This has thrown up the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table wide open: earlier, it were only India, Australia, and Sri Lanka who were strongly in contention to reach the ICC WTC Final, but now, New Zealand and South Africa, who won the first Test in Dhaka against Bangladesh, have a decent chance of making it to the final.
The ICC WTC final 2025 will be played at the Lord’s next June.
While India, despite the two losses to New Zealand, continue to remain at the top of the ICC WTC points table, their PCT (percentage of points won) has taken a significant dip, going from 74% to 62.82%. Australia are breathing just below them with 62.50, followed by Sri Lanka with 55.56%. New Zealand, with 50%, and South Africa, with 47.62, are next on the ICC WTC points table.
India ICC WTC final qualification scenario:
India have six more Tests left – one against New Zealand in Mumbai and five in Australia – in this cycle. To reach the ICC WTC final, India need to defeat New Zealand in the third Test and then beat Australia 3-2, which will take their PCT to 64.04%. This is assuming they don’t lose any points due to slow over rate.
Can Sri Lanka reach the ICC WTC final?
Yes, Sri Lanka can reach the ICC WTC final. They have four Tests left – two away in South Africa and two at home against Australia. Three wins and one loss will take their PCT to 61.54%, which is likely to see them in the final.
Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma said that he is not thinking of the WTC final as his sole focus is on the next Test match against New Zealand in Mumbai.
Rohit said, “As for the WTC Final chances, we are not thinking about that at the moment.”
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