Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Despite a drop in their percentage points following the rain-affected draw at the Gabba on Wednesday, Team India stayed third in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. Can they still secure a spot in the WTC final?
In Short
- India remained in third place in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
- India’s WTC points percentage (PCT) dropped from 57.29% to 55.88%.
- Rohit Sharma’s team has only two Tests remaining in the current cycle.
Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep’s determined tenth-wicket partnership helped India secure a vital draw in the rain-affected third Test against Australia. Intermittent rain wiped out most of the play on day five, leaving the five-match series tied at 1-1. India’s hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final took another turn after the drawn Test on Wednesday.
As a result, India’s World Test Championship (WTC) points percentage (PCT) declined from 57.29% to 55.88%, keeping them in third place behind South Africa and Australia. Both India and Australia experienced a drop in their PCTs on Wednesday—India to 55.88% and Australia to 58.89%. Despite the dip, Australia, the defending WTC champions, retained their second-place position in the standings.
South Africa moved to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings following their win over Sri Lanka in the second Test in Gqeberha, further tightening India’s road to the final. With only two Tests left in their current cycle, Rohit Sharma’s team faces an uphill task to secure a spot in the final. Meanwhile, South Africa and Australia, India’s main competitors, each have one series remaining—South Africa will host Pakistan, while Australia is set to tour Sri Lanka.
How Can India Still Qualify for the WTC Final?
India must avoid defeat in their remaining two Tests in Australia to keep their hopes of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final alive. They can afford just one more draw in the upcoming matches. After the Gabba draw, India can now reach a maximum of 138 points and achieve a PCT of 60.52% if they win both Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. This would position them above Australia in the standings. However, achieving this would demand an exceptional 3-1 series triumph over the defending champions on Australian soil.
If India wins both of their remaining Tests against Australia, their PCT will rise to 60.52%, guaranteeing they stay ahead of Australia, even if the latter secures a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka. Alternatively, India can finish ahead of Australia with one win and one draw, provided Sri Lanka holds Australia to at least one draw in their two-match series. However, if India loses one of their remaining games, their qualification hopes will hinge on Sri Lanka defeating Australia 2-0—a scenario that appears highly unlikely.
Is South Africa Locked In for the WTC Final?
South Africa has the most straightforward route to the WTC final, requiring just one victory in their remaining two matches against Pakistan to seal their spot. However, if South Africa loses both games, India would need to win at least one of their remaining Tests while relying on the outcome of the Australia-Sri Lanka series to determine the second finalist.
India’s chances of reaching the WTC final are still mathematically possible but highly challenging. They must deliver near-flawless performances in Melbourne and Sydney and hope for favorable results in other series to secure their place. With the stakes high, Rohit Sharma and his team need to rise to the occasion to keep their WTC aspirations alive.
