A two-match Test series is currently being played between South Africa and Sri Lanka. While this series is crucial for both South Africa and Sri Lanka, it holds even greater significance for Team India. At present, Team India can reach the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final on their own, but if they lose two matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the importance of this series for India will increase significantly. India kept their hopes alive for the WTC Final by winning the Perth Test match.
Why is the South Africa vs Sri Lanka Test series important for India?
The reason lies in the fact that if India wins two or three matches against Australia, they will still need to rely on the win percentages of South Africa and Sri Lanka. If this two-match series ends in a 1-1 draw, India can secure a spot in the final by winning three matches. Even if South Africa wins both matches, it will be favorable for India. However, India will then need Australia to win the series against South Africa.
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For now, India’s position at number one in the WTC standings is secure. The situation will become clearer after the Adelaide Test match, which will indicate whether India can reach the WTC Final for the third consecutive time. If India wins in Adelaide, they will need to win two more matches to confirm their spot. However, if they lose in Adelaide, they must win all three remaining matches to qualify for the final on their own.
If Sri Lanka defeats South Africa 2-0, it could complicate matters for India. Currently, the WTC points table sees India (61.11%) in first place, followed by Australia (57.69%), Sri Lanka (55.56%), New Zealand (54.55%), and South Africa (54.17%). The race to the final is primarily between these teams.