India’s chances of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final suffered a huge setback after being defeated by 184 runs against Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. With Australia now holding an unassailable 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), India’s chances of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final now depend on a series of scenarios. India is yet not completely out of the race at all and their hopes of qualification still rest on how they perform in the remaining matches and some unlikely results in other series.
India’s Short-Term Task For WTC 2025 Qualification
First, India needs to secure the fifth and final test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The match is slated to start on January 3, 2025, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Winning in Sydney will bring the series to a 2-2 level and thereby keep alive their hopes for qualifying for the WTC 2025 final. The qualification path, however, lies beyond their control. India’s fate will also be determined by how Sri Lanka does in their two-match test series against Australia, which begins on January 29, 2025, in Galle.
Will Sri Lanka A Role In India’s WTC 2025 Qualification?
India will qualify for the WTC 2025 final only if they beat Australia in Sydney and then pray for Sri Lanka to whitewash Australia in their series. If Sri Lanka wins 2-0 over Australia, India can conclude the WTC 2025 cycle with a percentage of 55.26% and thereby surpass Australia’s projected 51.75% and Sri Lanka’s expected 53.85%. This will ensure India qualify for the final, scheduled to be held at Lord’s. However, if India loses or draws the Sydney test, their chances of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final will be effectively over, irrespective of the result in the Sri Lanka-Australia series.
What Present WTC 2025 Standings Mean For India?
Presently, India is at the third position in the WTC 2025 standings with a percentage of 52.78%. Since it qualified into the final after winning a contest against Pakistan, Australia finds a share percentage of 51.75%, while Sri Lanka placed fourth with a share of 53.85%. If India loses in Sydney, Sri Lanka’s 2-0 win over Australia would not help India into the final, since that would not enhance India’s percentage enough to get it above both Australia and Sri Lanka.
What India Probably Could Do At Sydney?
For India, the way to the WTC 2025 final is well-laid but not easy. They need to start by performing well in Sydney, where they can’t afford to drop any more matches. Top-order issues have been an issue for the team in the Boxing Day Test and the big names such as Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have not performed upto the mark, so they’ll be looking to do the job in the final test at Sydney. Some other players who had shown lot of grit and resilience in that last game would play a major role if India have to win over Sydney.
Can India Make It To The WTC 2025 Final?
India can still reach the WTC 2025 final, however, that will only happen if they win in Sydney and Sri Lanka beats Australia 2-0. Their fate will be determined by how both teams perform in the next few weeks. For now, India needs to focus on winning the fifth and the final test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Sydney and hoping that other results will fall in their favor, keeping their dreams of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final alive.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
