The result of the Perth Test pushed Australia to the second spot in the points table, while India climbed to the top. Meanwhile, South Africa’s win over Sri Lanka elevated the Proteas to second place, with Australia slipping to third. Though the final WTC standings are yet to be decided, the race to the final has now become intensely competitive.
India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka are all in contention for the top two spots. While the victory in Perth gave India a solid foundation, Rohit Sharma’s team still has a long road ahead to secure their place in the WTC final. This is India’s last Test series before the final, making every match crucial. Let’s look at the scenarios under which Team India can qualify for the final:
Scenario 1: If India defeats Australia 5-0, 4-1, 4-0, or 3-0
If India wins the series with these margins, Rohit Sharma’s team will qualify for the final without relying on the outcomes of other matches. Such scorelines would eliminate Australia from the race and ensure India’s place in the final at Lord’s in June.
Scenario 2: If India defeats Australia 3-1
A 3-1 series win for India would also ensure qualification, provided South Africa does not defeat Sri Lanka in the second Test of their series. If Sri Lanka loses the second Test to South Africa after India’s 3-1 series win, Team India might be eliminated. However, even a draw between South Africa and Sri Lanka would make a 3-1 win sufficient for India to qualify.
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Scenario 3: If India defeats Australia 3-2
A 3-2 series win for India would complicate the qualification race. After such a result, India would need to depend on Sri Lanka. For India to qualify, Sri Lanka must beat South Africa in the ongoing Test series’ second match and achieve at least one draw during their two-Test series against Australia starting January 29. This combination of results would secure India’s place in the final.
Scenario 4: If the series is drawn 2-2
If the Border-Gavaskar series ends in a 2-2 draw, India’s chances of qualification diminish. South Africa would need to defeat Sri Lanka 2-0 in their current series. Additionally, India would have to hope that Sri Lanka wins their two-Test series against Australia by just a 1-0 margin. A 2-0 win for Sri Lanka over Australia would complicate India’s path to the final, while a 1-0 win would suffice. Sri Lanka must also avoid a 0-2 loss to Australia, as it would make India’s qualification even more challenging.
