New Zealand’s historic Test series triumph in India has sent shockwaves through the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings, casting doubt on India’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive WTC final.
India’s 0-1 series defeat to the Black Caps has left them precariously perched atop the WTC table with 62.82 percentage points, a mere 0.32 points ahead of Australia. This setback has significantly diminished India’s chances of securing a direct berth in the 2025 WTC final.
The WTC standings are now wide open, with several teams vying for the top two spots. South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand are all within striking distance of India and Australia. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia has become even more crucial for India, as they will likely need to win the series to ensure their place in the final.
New Zealand’s victory has propelled them to fourth place in the WTC standings with 50.00 percentage points, overtaking South Africa. Sri Lanka remains in third place with 55.56 points.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s decisive nine-wicket victory over England in the third Test in Rawalpindi has moved them up to seventh place with 33.33 points. England, who lost the series 2-1, now sit just above Pakistan with 40.79 points.
India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final now hinge on their performance in the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai, starting November 1. A win is imperative for India to maintain their chances of qualifying for the final.
The WTC standings are set to undergo further changes in the coming months, with several key series scheduled to take place. The outcome of these series will determine which teams will ultimately qualify for the 2025 WTC final.
