Following Australia’s nine-wicket victory in their third Border-Gavaskar Test in Indore, India’s chances of making it to the ICC World Test Championship final suffered a blow.
India’s chances of making it to the WTC Final significantly increased after winning the first two games in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but a loss to Australia in the third game slightly slowed their momentum. Although India is second in the WTC points table and has a 2-1 series advantage, it is still unclear whether they will advance to the final. After its 11th victory in 18 games during the 2021–23 cycle of the Championship, the Australian team advanced to the WTC final.
Here are possible scenarios for the World Test Championship Final qualification
India’s WTC qualification scenarios:
After defeating India in the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Australia, captained by Steve Smith in place of regular skipper Pat Cummins, advanced to the World Tennis Championship final. The squad has been the dominant force during the World Test Championship, winning 11 of the 18 Tests they have participated in 2021-23.
As a result of the loss, India is now in a life-or-death scenario and must concentrate on making it to the World Test Championship final rather than experimenting with lineups for the summit match at The Oval. As a result of India’s fifth loss in 17 games during the 2021–23 WTC cycle, their points percentage (PCT) dropped from 64.06 to 60.29.
Only one other team, Sri Lanka, is still in the running for the WTC final at the Oval in June. India must now win its final game in the series to advance to the final without relying on their opponent’s performance. India’s participation in the WTC Final will be guaranteed with a win in the fourth Test against Australia in Ahmedabad. But, Sri Lanka will have a chance to pass Rohit’s team and earn the final slot if the visitors win again or if the game ends in a draw.
Sri Lanka’s WTC qualification scenario
If India is denied victory in the fourth Test in the subcontinent, Sri Lanka can join Australia in the WTC final by sweeping New Zealand in their two-Test series. On Thursday, when Australia and India begin their last Test at Ahmedabad’s stadium mega-stadium, the Sri Lanka-New Zealand series begins at Hagley Oval.
Sri Lanka has spared no effort in their preparations and recently hosted a training camp at a new site in the highlands south of Kandy to replicate New Zealand’s cold climate and bouncy pitches. Sri Lanka, a squad that prefers to use its pace bowlers to attack, has sent a full staff to New Zealand.
As none of the quick bowlers have ever played a Test in New Zealand—-except for Milan Priyanath and seam bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne—-they will have to learn on the job. Meanwhile, New Zealand is in good spirits following its historic one-run victory over England last week in Wellington. That resulted in a 1-1 tie in the series and retained the Black Caps’ perfect home record dating back to 2017. Kane Williamson, the team’s best batsman and former captain will be tardy in arriving in Christchurch as he grieves the loss of his grandmother.