The Sri Lankan cricket team has disrupted India’s calculations in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) by thrashing New Zealand in the Test series. Rain has also played a significant role in complicating India’s situation. The ongoing Test match between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur is on the verge of being washed out due to rain.
If this match is indeed washed out, as seems likely, India’s chances will be jeopardized. First, let’s discuss the two-match Test series, where Sri Lanka has completed a clean sweep over New Zealand, winning 2-0. Following this defeat, New Zealand has slipped from fourth to seventh place in the WTC points table.
Sri Lanka Rises to Third Place
Now, New Zealand is at risk of being eliminated from the WTC final race. The team has a win percentage of 37.50 from 8 matches, with 4 wins and 4 losses, placing them seventh in the table. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has reached third place with a win percentage of 55.55 after their fifth win in 9 Tests.
Sri Lanka will now play two Tests during their tour of South Africa, followed by a home Test series against Australia. If Sri Lanka wins both series, they could secure a place in the WTC final, which could pose a threat to the currently top-ranked Indian team.
Meanwhile, the Test match between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur is also at risk of being washed out due to rain. In the first three days of the match, only 35 overs have been played, with Bangladesh scoring 107 runs for 3 wickets. Even if the last two days see full play, achieving a result seems unlikely, raising concerns about the match being abandoned.
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The Last Chance for India to Reach the Final
Currently, the Indian team sits at the top of the WTC points table with a win percentage of 71.67. Australia follows in second place with a win percentage of 62.50. Amid Sri Lanka’s consecutive victories and the potential abandonment of the Kanpur Test, India’s path to the WTC final now hinges on one crucial requirement.
After the Kanpur Test, India has only 8 matches left in this WTC cycle from 2023-25. To secure a place in the final, India must win at least 5 out of these 8 matches. If they achieve this, they will not need to rely on the results of other teams and can confirm their spot in the final.
It’s worth noting that India’s next 8 matches will be against New Zealand and Australia. This includes a three-match home Test series against New Zealand and a five-match Test series against Australia on their home ground.
WTC Points System
- 12 points for a win
- 6 points for a tie
- 4 points for a draw
- Teams are ranked based on their percentage of points earned
- The top two teams will reach the final in 2025 at Lord’s
- Points are deducted for slow over rates.