WTC 2023-25 final scenario: India need five wins in 10 games, Australia four in seven

Team india. (Photo Source: BCCI)

Team India are currently leading the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points standing. The Rohit Sharma-led side consolidated their top position following their thumping win by an innings and 64 runs in the Dharamshala Test against England. The win saw India adding 12 crucial points, taking their overall tally to 74 points.

India have reached the WTC final twice since its inception but have lacked success, finishing as runners-up. They lost to New Zealand in the first final, while Pat Cummins-led Australia thrashed them last year. India have a shot to lift the trophy in the third edition but there is extremely close competition. They have to win five of the remaining 10 matches in the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle. Their remaining contests include a home series against Bangladesh (two matches) and New Zealand (three matches) and a five-match away series against Australia.

Also read: WTC Standings: India enjoy top-tier view as England’s ratio slops

Australia increase pressure on India with series win over New Zealand

Australia, led by Pat Cummins heightened the tension on team India after whitewashing the two-match series against New Zealand recently. The world champions’ winning percentage, which was 59 before clinching the second Test against the Kiwis by three wickets on March 11 at Hagley Oval, has gone up to 62.50. 

Australia are currently holding the second position in the points table with 90 points after their series win over New Zealand. The Kiwis, who were the first team to win the WTC final, dropped one spot and will be looking to solidify their spot. Meanwhile, England finds themselves reeling in eighth place after losing four games in the five-game series against India. Bangladesh are fourth in the list with 50 percent while Pakistan are trailing behind them with a winning percentage of 36.66.

Also read: Twitter Reactions: Carey, Marsh find a way to lift Australia 2-0 up

WTC 2023-25 Final Scenario:

Wins required to reach WTC Finals.

Cutoff for qualifying has reduced to 58% for Australia and India. Others will need to reach 60% to overtake one of Aus/Ind pic.twitter.com/EF6CmKrM8s

— Krishna Kumar (@KrishnaKRM) March 11, 2024

Here is the equation of all the teams to reach the WTC 2023-25 final:

Australia: 4 out of 7 Tests [5 vs India (home) and 2 v Sri Lanka (away)]
India: 5 out of 10 Tests [2 v Bangladesh (home), 3 v New Zealand (home) and 5 v Australia (away)]
South Africa: 7 out of 8 Tests [(2 v West Indies (away), 2 v Bangladesh (away), 2 v Sri Lanka (home), 2 v Pakistan (home)]
New Zealand: 6 out of 8 Tests [(2 v Sri Lanka (away), 3 v New Zealand (away), 3 v England (home)]
Pakistan: 7 out of 9 Tests [(2 v Bangladesh (home), 3 v England (home), 2 v South Africa (away), 2 v West Indies (home)]
West Indies: 7 out of 9 Tests [(3 v England (away), 2 v South Africa (home), 2 v Bangladesh (home), 2 v Pakistan (away)]
England: 12 out of 12 Tests [(3 v West Indies (home), 3 v Sri Lanka (home), 3 v Pakistan (away), 3 v New Zealand (away)]
Bangladesh: 7 out of 10 Tests [(2 v Sri Lanka (home), 2 v Pakistan (away), 2 v India (away), 2 v South Africa (home), 2 v West Indies (away)]
Sri Lanka: 8 out of 11 Tests [(2 vs Bangladesh (away), 3 v England (away)a, 2 v New Zealand (home), 2 v South Africa (away), 2 v Australia (home)]