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India’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final has taken a serious hit following a 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand. The loss has dampened India’s hopes and made their qualification scenario more challenging, requiring a strong comeback in their remaining matches to secure a spot in the final.
Series whitewash ends India’s winning streak at home
In the third and final Test of the series, India fell short by 25 runs, conceding a clean sweep to New Zealand, who outperformed the visitors across all three matches. This whitewash marks a rare setback for India, who entered the series as one of the top contenders in the WTC standings. Following the defeat, India has slipped from the top position to second place, now holding 58.33 points and facing a steep road ahead to qualify for the WTC final, set to take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 11, 2025.
Also READ: IND vs NZ: AB de Villiers comments on Rishabh Pant’s controversial dismissal in third Test
Upcoming Australia series: A must-win for India
India’s next and most critical challenge will be a five-match Test series against Australia, starting November 22, on Australian soil. To solidify their chances of making it to the final, India must win the series convincingly – ideally by a 4-1 margin or even a 5-0 sweep, although both scenarios appear daunting. Australia currently leads the WTC standings and will have the advantage of playing at home, making India’s task even more challenging. A comprehensive victory would propel India back into strong contention, but even a two-win performance could keep their hopes alive, albeit with external factors at play.
Dependence on other teams performances
If India struggles to secure a commanding series win over Australia, they may have to rely on the outcomes of other WTC matches, particularly those involving third-ranked Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka have four Test matches remaining, including two against South Africa in November and two against Australia in January 2025. For India’s qualification prospects to improve, Sri Lanka would need to lose at least two of these matches. A strong performance from Sri Lanka in these fixtures could jeopardize India’s chances, highlighting the interdependence of results as the WTC race intensifies.
With Sri Lanka close on their heels in the WTC standings, India’s qualification for the WTC final could hinge significantly on the Sri Lankan team’s results. If Sri Lanka suffers multiple defeats in their upcoming matches, India’s chances of qualifying would improve, but any strong showing from Sri Lanka would diminish India’s margin for error. As the WTC cycle draws to a close, India will be closely watching these games, hoping for outcomes that favour their own qualification bid.
