Team India has suffered an embarrassing 10-wicket loss to Australia in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy played in Adelaide. The defeat came in just over two days, which further raised questions on the side’s ability.
This defeat has put them in a do-or-die situation in terms of their qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final. Their points percentage has dropped from 61.11 to 57.29 and they have slipped below Australia and South Africa in the WTC points table to the third place.
With just three more Tests remaining in the cycle for the Men in Blue, they now have a huge task if they aim to make it to their third consecutive WTC final. The recent defeat in Adelaide was India’s sixth defeat of this cycle and their fourth in a couple of months.
Also read: ICC World Test Championship Points Table, WTC Table After IND vs AUS 2nd Test 2024
India’s WTC 2025 Final Qualification takes a massive hit
India cannot afford any more defeat in the remaining three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy if they aim to keep their qualification in their own hands. They can afford a maximum of two wins and one draw in their remaining games to confirm their WTC final qualification.
If the Men in Blue manages two wins and one draw, they will finish with a points percentage of 60.52. This will put them into the WTC final straight away without depending on other results.
Moreover, if the Men in Blue manage to win all their three remaining matches, they will finish with a whopping points percentage of 64.05 with 146 points to their tally. This no. of points cannot be overtaken by Australia. It means that they need to win the ongoing series at any cost to make it to the WTC final next year.
WTC 2025 Final qualification explained
If India draws 2-2 with Australia, they will finish with a points percentage of 57.01. In this case, Australia will move ahead of India with 130 points to their tally as compared to India’s 126 and will knock the Men in Blue out of the race.
If Rohit Sharma and his men win the ongoing series against Australia 3-2, they will finish with a points percentage of 58.77. Australia will play two more Tests in the current WTC cycle after the ongoing series as they will face Sri Lanka in an away series. If Australia wins both these Tests, they will finish with a percentage of 55.26.
South Africa in a great position to qualify
Meanwhile, South Africa can also stretch their points percentage to a whopping 69.44 if they manage to win all their three matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. All these three matches will be played in South Africa which gives them a significant home advantage and a chance to qualify for their first ever WTC final.
If the Men in Blue manage to beat Australia 3-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they will finish with a points percentage of 60.52. In that case, Australia will finish with a maximum points percentage of 57 even if they win their two away Tests in Sri Lanka. It will knock them out of the race for the WTC final and put India and South Africa into the summit clash.