India’s chances of playing in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at Lord’s took a big hit. They lost to Australia by 184 runs during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This defeat puts India behind 1-2 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, with one Test left to play.
Because of this loss, India’s points percentage (PCT) in the WTC standings fell to 52.78%. This makes it much harder for them to qualify for the final at Lord’s. In contrast, Australia strengthened their position with a PCT of 60.71%, staying in the race along with South Africa, who is currently at the top.
What Happens Next for India?
Here’s how India can still qualify for the WTC final:
– If India wins in Sydney (series tied at 2-2):
India’s PCT will rise to 55.26%. To make it to the final, Sri Lanka must beat Australia by at least 1-0 in their next two matches.
– If India draws in Sydney (series ends 1-2):
India’s PCT will drop to 51.75%, which means they are out of the race for the final.
– If India loses in Sydney (series ends 1-3):
India’s PCT will fall even lower, and they won’t have any chance to qualify.
Meanwhile, South Africa has already secured a spot in the final. Now, India must perform well in Sydney and hope Sri Lanka can beat Australia.
Australia’s Chances
Australia still has two important matches against Sri Lanka. With a PCT of 60.71%, they are in a good position to qualify but cannot afford to lose. Winning both games against Sri Lanka would guarantee their place in the final, no matter what India does.
Current WTC Points Table:
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | PCT |
|———-|—————–|—————-|——|——–|——-|——–|———|
| 1 | South Africa | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 886 | 66.67% |
| 2 | Australia | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1186 | 61.46% |
| 3 | India | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1145 | 52.78% |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 381 | 48.21% |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 604 | 45.45% |
| 6 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 2214 | 43.18% |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 453 | 31.25% |
| 8 | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 403 | 30.30% |
| 9 | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 322 | 24.24% |
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