New Delhi: South Africa have bolstered their chances of making it to the World Test Championship final by beating Sri Lanka by 143 runs, and in the process, took the series 2-0 on home soil. This win has catapulted the Temba Bavuma-led side to the top of the WTC points table, and that’s where they are going to stay in the top two. Meanwhile, India’s hopes of qualifying for the WTC final suffered a significant blow following their defeat in the pink-ball Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
In a way, South Africa’s victory might have inadvertently aided India’s cause, as it has pushed Sri Lanka to the brink of elimination from the race for the WTC final. While India’s points percentage dropped from 61.11 to 57.29, causing them to fall out of the top two, they remain focused on securing a third consecutive appearance in the WTC final. Meanwhile, South Africa has emerged as a strong contender, aiming for their first-ever appearance in the ICC’s red-ball event.
Meanwhile, South Africa sit at the top of the standings with a points percentage of 63.33. The Proteas will need to win their next two Tests against Pakistan to ensure qualification to the final of the 2023-2025 cycle. A 1-0 victory will see them through, while a 2-0 win will cement their spot in the final more firmly.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia is now level at 1-1, with three matches left. To directly qualify for the World Test Championship final, India will have to win the remaining matches and complete a 4-1 series win over Australia. If they fail to do so, then their qualification will depend on the South Africa vs Pakistan Test series later this month.
India’s road to the WTC 2025 final is at a decisive crossroads right now. With three games left in the present cycle, Rohit Sharma and his men will have to win these games to gain direct qualification without relying on how other teams perform. Scenarios that will determine India’s chances:
India’s qualification scenario
India’s road to the WTC 2025 final is at a decisive crossroads right now. With three games left in the present cycle, Rohit Sharma and his men will have to win these games to gain direct qualification without relying on how other teams perform. Scenarios that will determine India’s chances:
If India wins the series by 3-2 against Australia, they will garner 146 points and a PCT of 64.05. This would place them in a position where they cannot be overtaken by Australia, thus securing a final berth for India in the WTC. For this, India would have to play very well in difficult Australian conditions.
A 3-1 series win for India would give them 138 points and a PCT of 60.52. It means that even if they win their remaining matches against Sri Lanka, Australia can have a maximum PCT of 57, giving them no chance to play in the final.
A 2-2 series draw would not help India much, as they would finish with 126 points and a PCT of 57.01. If Australia wins their remaining matches against Sri Lanka, they could reach 130 points, which would put them ahead of India in the standings and effectively eliminate India from contention for the final.
India’s requirements
India must avoid any defeat, and to be absolutely safe, the most plausible scenario is 3-2 or 3-1 against Australia. Still, one draw from the last three matches would also be workable, but anything fewer than two outright wins will put Indian qualification in serious jeopardy.
