After a sweet and sour tour of Sri Lanka, Team India will have a brief break before heading into the home season that starts with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test gets underway from September 19 which will also mark the beginning of the 10 remaining matches for India in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle as they aim to qualify for a third straight final.
As per the latest standings, India are leading the charts with six wins from 9 matches. They lost two while one game ended in a draw. They currently have 74 points in their kitty and are positioned on the top of the table with a 68.52 point percentage.
Defending champions Australia are placed second with a points percentage of 62.50. They have the most no of points – 90 with 8 wins – most among all.
How can India qualify?
India once again have a chance of finishing at the top of the table and qualifying for the 2025 WTC Final. Winning five matches out of their remaining 10 Tests will see them making it to the final. If the team get those wins before flying Down Under, they can afford a slip up or two and still make it to the final.
If India could make it a third series win in a row in Australia, the Pat Cummins-led side will have to win the subsequent series, a two-match affair against Sri Lanka.
Qualification scenario for Australia
The reigning champions will need to win at least four of the remaining seven Tests to have a PCT of 63.16 or above. If they suffer a 0-5, 0-4 or 1-4 series loss to India in the upcoming Border–Gavaskar Trophy at home, they will crash out of the race to the finale with a maximum PTC of 57.9.
New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan still alive
Placed third on the table, New Zealand should win at least five of the remaining 8 matches to reach a 57.14 PCT and make it to the final. They face Sri Lanka in two Tests, India in three and as many versus England in a home series. The Kiwis must win at least three of the five away Tests they will play against Sri Lanka and India in order to avoid a must-win scenario during the three-match home Test series against England
Sri Lanka, placed 4th on the table, can reach up to 84.62 PCT, the second maximum PCT after India, if they can win at least six of the nine remaining Tests. They would need to win three of the five away Tests – against England and South Africa to put themselves in a comfortable spot. If they fail to win even one Test in England, it will be a do-or-die situation in the remaining six Tests. And if they stun England with a series win, they will kick the Three Lions Out of contention.
Pakistan are left with 9 Tests – 7 at home and 2 away. To be in contention for the final, they have to win 6. A series win against England at home will push Ben Stokes & Co out of the race.
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