The Indian cricket team is currently on a tour of Australia, where they are engaged in a five-match Test series against the host team. Currently, the series is tied 1-1. The fourth Test match of the series will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26 (Thursday). The team that wins this match will take a 2-1 lead in the series. This match is also crucial for both teams in terms of qualifying for the final of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC).
WTC Final Race Continues…
Looking at the current scenario in the 2023-25 World Test Championship, the picture for the final is still unclear. Only eight matches remain, but four teams are still very much in the race for the final. These teams are India, Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. New Zealand, England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies have already been eliminated from the race.
Currently, South Africa tops the WTC points table with 76 points from 10 matches, having won 6, lost 3, and drawn 1. South Africa’s points percentage is 63.33%. Australia is in second place with 106 points from 15 matches, having won 9, lost 4, and drawn 2, with a points percentage of 58.89%. India is in third place with 114 points from 17 matches, having won 9, lost 6, and drawn 2, with a points percentage of 55.88%. India has 2 matches left to play, both against Australia.
New Zealand, with a points percentage of 48.21%, is in fourth place and has already been eliminated from the race. Sri Lanka is in fifth place, but its chances of reaching the final are slim, with a points percentage of 45.45%. They can reach a maximum of 53.85% of the points. England is in sixth place, Pakistan in seventh, Bangladesh in eighth, and the West Indies are in ninth place.
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India’s Scenario for Reaching the Final:
- For India to easily reach the final, they need to win both remaining Tests against Australia. If India draws or loses any match, they will have to depend on the results of other teams.
- If India wins the series 2-1, they will hope that Sri Lanka draws at least one of the two Test matches in their home series against Australia, or that South Africa loses their series against Pakistan.
- If the series ends in a 2-2 draw, India will end with 55.26% points. In this case, India will qualify for the final only if Sri Lanka wins at least one Test against Australia in their home series (1-0 or 2-0) or if Pakistan beats South Africa 2-0. If the Melbourne and Sydney Tests end in a draw, India will finish with 53.51% points.
- India will then qualify for the final only if South Africa loses both Tests to Pakistan or Sri Lanka either wins or draws their series against Australia (1-0 or 0-0). If the series between Sri Lanka and Australia ends in a 0-0 draw, India and Australia will both have 53.51% points, but India will be ranked higher due to more series wins in this cycle. If Sri Lanka wins 2-0, they will move ahead of India.
- If India loses the series 1-2, they will finish with 51.75% points and will be out of the race for the final.
This is the third cycle of the World Test Championship, which will run from 2023 to 2025. The ICC has already released the points system for this cycle. Teams earn 12 points for a win, 4 points for a draw, and 6 points for a tied match.
Points are awarded as a percentage of available points: 100% for a win, 50% for a tie, 33.33% for a draw, and 0% for a loss. In a two-match series, there are 24 points available, and in a five-match series, there are 60 points. Rankings in the points table are primarily determined by the win percentage. The final of the WTC 2023-25 will be held from June 11-15, 2025, at Lord’s, the home of cricket.
Remaining Matches in the World Test Championship 2023-25:
- India vs Australia
4th Test: Melbourne, December 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, January 3-7 - Pakistan vs South Africa
1st Test: Centurion, December 26-30
2nd Test: Cape Town, January 3-7 - Pakistan vs West Indies
1st Test: Karachi, January 16-20
2nd Test: Multan, January 24-28 - Sri Lanka vs Australia
1st Test: Galle, January 29-February 2
2nd Test: Galle, February 6-10 - World Test Championship Final
Only Match: Lord’s, June 11-15
