The first match of the 3-match Test series between India and New Zealand is ongoing. The match began on October 16, and today (October 20) is the fifth day. In this match, the Indian team was bowled out for just 46 runs in their first innings.
On the other hand, New Zealand scored 402 runs in their first innings. In response, India launched a brilliant counter-attack in their second innings, scoring 462 runs, giving New Zealand a target of 107 runs. The first day of the match was washed out due to rain, and rain also disrupted play on the fourth day. There is a possibility of rain again today (October 20).
The weather department had already predicted rain during the Bengaluru Test match. This has raised the question in the minds of many people: if this match gets washed out due to rain and ends in a draw, will India be out of the race for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final? And if India loses, will it affect their chances?
The answer is no. However, if the match ends in a draw, India’s path to the final might become a bit more challenging. If India loses in Bengaluru, they will have to win their remaining matches. Currently, India is at the top of the WTC points table with 74.24% points, while Australia is in second place with a 62.50% win percentage.
WTC Final Equation
After the Bengaluru Test, the Indian team has 7 more matches left in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. If this Test ends in a draw, India will need to win at least 3 of their remaining 7 matches. If they win 4 matches, their place in the final will be almost certain. If they win only 3 matches, India may have to rely on the results of other teams. If they lose, India will have to win their upcoming matches.
India’s next 7 matches are against New Zealand and Australia. They will play the remaining 2 matches of the current series against New Zealand and then a 5-match Test series against Australia in Australia.
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Points System for Win Percentage
This is the third round of the World Test Championship, which will run from 2023 to 2025. The ICC has already released the rules for the points system for this cycle. A win earns a team 12 points, a draw earns 4 points, and a tie earns 6 points.
For win percentage calculations: a win gives 100% points, a tie gives 50%, a draw gives 33.33%, and a loss gives 0%. A 2-match series offers a total of 24 points, while a 5-match series offers 60 points. The WTC rankings are primarily determined by win percentage.
WTC Points System
- Win: 12 points
- Tie: 6 points
- Draw: 4 points
- Teams are ranked based on the percentage of points won.
- The top two teams will qualify for the final at Lord’s in 2025.
- Points can be deducted for slow over rates.