India’s recent loss to New Zealand in Pune has intensified the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Currently, India holds the top position in the WTC standings with a points percentage (PCT) of 62.82.
How Can Team India Still Qualify for the WTC Final?
To ensure qualification for the final, India must win at least four of their remaining six Tests. This includes an upcoming match against New Zealand in Mumbai and a five-match series against Australia. Winning these matches is crucial. If India secures victories, they will reach a PCT of 64.03%. This is likely to guarantee a top-two finish.
However, the competition remains fierce. If India loses in Mumbai, New Zealand could finish with 64.29% if they achieve a clean sweep against England. In that scenario, India would need to win four matches and draw one in Australia to maintain their chances for the final. The pressure is on as every match counts. Draws have been rare in this WTC cycle. Only three out of 49 Tests have ended in draws.
How Can Other Teams Qualify for the WTC Final?
New Zealand
New Zealand currently sits in fourth place with a PCT of 50.00. They have a crucial match against India and three Tests against England remaining. If New Zealand wins all four matches, they can reach 64.29%. However, they will still need other results to go their way to secure a top-two finish. If they lose to India in Mumbai, their chances diminish significantly.
Australia
Australia is closely trailing India with a PCT of 62.50. They have seven matches left: five against India and two against Sri Lanka. To secure their place in the final, Australia needs to win at least four of these matches. If they achieve this, they could finish with a PCT of 65.79%. This will more likely ensure their qualification.
South Africa
South Africa currently holds fifth place with a PCT of 47.62. They have five matches remaining: one against Bangladesh and two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. If South Africa wins all five Tests, they can finish with a PCT of 69.44%. This would guarantee them a spot in the final.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka sits in third place with a PCT of 55.56. They have four matches left: two against South Africa and two against Australia. If they win all four Tests, they can reach 69.23%, putting them in contention for the final.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s recent 2-1 series win against England has given them an outside chance at qualification. However, they sit at the bottom of the table with a PCT of 19.05. They need to win all four remaining Tests against South Africa and West Indies to have any hope of making it to the final.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and Instagram
