ICC World Test Championship 2023-25: Team India stands at top with 68.51 PCT in WTC 25 points table. Is India aiming for third straight World Test Championship final?
After India’s historic win in the 2024 World T20, the focus has shifted to India’s chances in the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship. India are the favourites to make it to the final in both of these competitions. They have won the Champions Trophy twice before. The trophy eluding them so far is the WTC, where they have made it to the finals on both previous occasions but ended up as runners-up. With the final jinx broken following the World T20 triumph, India would be looking to cross the finish line in the WTC final this time around.
However, although Team India are currently at the top of the WTC table, they have some work to do before they can guarantee themselves a place in the final. Also, if they consistently win all their remaining matches in the cycle, they can even oust their nemesis Australia from claiming a spot in the final, with some help from other teams.
India’s top standing in the points table is due to their 4-1 win against England at home. This series win helped India oust Australia from the top. Earlier in the WTC cycle, India won 2, lost 1, and drew 1.
Let’s see how India stands out in the WTC points table and elaborate on their chances of making it to the final for the third straight season.
Current WTC standings
Teams | Matches | Win | Lost | Draw | PT | PCT |
India | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 74 | 68.51 |
Australia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 90 | 62.50 |
New Zealand | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 50.00 |
Sri Lanka | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 50.00 |
Pakistan | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 36.66 |
West Indies | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 33.33 |
South Africa | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 25.00 |
Bangladesh | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 25.00 |
England | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 17.50 |
A look at India’s remaining fixtures
India are due to play two Tests against Bangladesh and three Tests against New Zealand - all at home. They are favourites to remain unbeaten or even win all five Tests. They have enjoyed success at home in tests against these two teams. India are a class apart compared to Bangladesh, and should whitewash them. But New Zealand may run India close, but their lack of good spin options and their batters’ apparent weakness against quality spin bowling on sub-continental tracks would come to haunt them.
India’s biggest challenge will be when they tour Australia for a five-match Test series. Although India have won their last two Test series down under, it won’t be easy this time around. Australia have been a champion team in Tests and ODIs under the leadership of Pat Cummins. If India do manage to win against the Kangaroos, they will stake a claim in the final as they will march ahead of all teams in terms of the points percentage system. Even a draw or a narrow loss would guarantee them a place in the final.
But they should look to win as many matches as they can, which would weaken Australia’s chances of making it to the final. Australia, who are second in the WTC table with 62.50 PCT from 12 matches, have only these five Tests against India left in the cycle. A 0-5, 0-4, or 0-3 loss could hurt them, as they will be stranded on 62.50 PCT. And if other teams in the fray pull up their socks in the following six months or so, they could leapfrog the Aussies in the points table and join India in the final.
India, for their part, should concentrate on winning as many matches as possible in this cycle to go miles ahead of other competitors and should not worry about whom they face in the final.
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