India’s prospects of reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final have received a slight boost after England handed New Zealand a crushing eight-wicket defeat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. England’s dominant performance, spearheaded by Brydon Carse, who claimed 10 wickets in the match, may not have improved their own WTC chances significantly, but it has given India a crucial edge in the ongoing race to the final.
India Regains Top Spot on WTC Table
India bounced back strongly after a disappointing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand, reclaiming the top spot in the WTC points table with a record-breaking 295-run victory over Australia in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This win propelled India to a Percentage of Points (PCT) of 61.11, with nine victories in 15 matches during this cycle.
South Africa, following a commanding 233-run win over Sri Lanka in Durban, sits second with a PCT of 59.3. Australia, with a PCT of 57.7, occupies the third spot.
Impact of New Zealand’s Loss on India’s WTC Final Scenario
Before New Zealand’s defeat to England, India’s path to the WTC final appeared steep. To secure a place, India needed to avoid a series loss in Australia while maintaining a PCT of at least 64.9. However, New Zealand’s loss has shifted the dynamics, lowering the threshold for India.
Now, a series win of 3-1 in Australia would give India a PCT of 59.6, sufficient to qualify for the final, assuming South Africa whitewashes Sri Lanka in their series. Even if India were to win 3-2, their qualification chances would improve, provided Sri Lanka holds Australia to at least one draw during their series in early 2025.
Scenarios for India’s Qualification
3-1 Series Win Against Australia: India secures a PCT of 59.6, qualifying for the final if South Africa sweeps Sri Lanka.
3-2 Series Win Against Australia: India reaches a PCT of 58.8. In this case, Sri Lanka must draw at least one match against Australia to help India qualify.
2-2 Draw in the Border-Gavaskar Series: India’s PCT drops to 55.3. For qualification, Sri Lanka would need to defeat Australia 1-0 or better.
Road Ahead
While India’s victory in Perth has significantly boosted their WTC campaign, the team still faces a challenging road ahead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The second Test in Adelaide will be crucial in shaping India’s chances, as the competition remains fierce with Australia and South Africa also vying for a spot in the final.
