Team India WTC Final:
New Zealand's 3-0 series whitewash has put India in a tight situation, causing them to lose the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table. The path to the WTC final now appears exceedingly challenging.
India is set to visit Australia for a 5-match Test series. To secure their place in the Test Championship final, they must aim for a 4-0 victory. Even a 4-1 win keeps hopes alive.
Fans wonder what happens if India loses the series. Can they still be in the WTC final race? Let's understand the scenarios through some equations.
India's Path to the Final with a 4-0 Triumph Over Australia
Firstly, if India defeats Australia 4-0 in the series—meaning four wins and one draw—India would achieve a 65.79% point percentage, nearly ensuring their spot in the final.
In this scenario, Australia would fall out of contention. Meanwhile, if New Zealand sweeps England 3-0 at home, they would accumulate 64.29%. South Africa could lead with 69.44% after defeating Pakistan and Sri Lanka 2-0 each. This equation could pit India against South Africa in the final.
Potential Outcomes if Australia Wins the Series
If Australia wins the series, India's prospects still remain positive, but they'll need assistance from other teams. After losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India's WTC final equation might look like this...
- Australia defeats India 3-2... - New Zealand and England draw their series 1-1. - South Africa draws 1-1 in both series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. - Australia and Sri Lanka draw 0-0.
Possible India-Australia Final Showdown
If these conditions align and India loses similarly, Australia's points reach 58.77%, leading them to the final. India's points would stand at 53.51%, resulting in an India-Australia final showdown. Consequently, South Africa would have 52.78%, New Zealand 52.38%, and Sri Lanka 51.28% in points.
