India Cricket Team were destined for a hat-trick of the WTC Final appearance. But it has all come crashing down after a whitewash at home to New Zealand. Now, Rohit Sharma & Co face a tricky task in Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. India must win the series for a direct qualification to the WTC Final 2025. But the result must be 3-1 in a five-match IND vs AUS Test series. Anything less than that or a draw or a loss will help New Zealand, South Africa and India’s arch-rivals Australia seal the deal. InsideSport explains how India can reach the World Test Championship final for the third time in a row.
India’s Road to WTC Final 2025: Current Standings
As of now, India are second in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, while Australia occupy the top spot. Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa are still in the running for a spot in the WTC Final 2025 race.
Key Scenarios for India’s Qualification
For India to secure a place in their third consecutive WTC Finals, they need to win 4 out of their remaining 5 matches. Achieving these 4 victories would ensure India’s automatic qualification for the final at Lord’s.
In the event that India does not win 4 Test matches, their chances of topping the WTC standings remain but are highly uncertain. This scenario would require India to depend heavily on favourable results from other teams.
Alternatively, India can still reach the finals without finishing first. By striving to secure the second spot, India can ensure their place in the finals. According to WTC rules, the top two teams at the end of the 2-year cycle advance to the finals.
WTC Final 2025 Race: Remaining Fixtures
| Series | Match | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh in West Indies | WI vs BAN 1st Test | North Sound | Nov 22-26 |
| WI vs BAN 2nd Test | Kingston | Nov 30 – Dec 4 | |
| India in Australia | AUS vs IND 1st Test | Perth | Nov 22-26 |
| AUS vs IND 2nd Test | Adelaide | Dec 6-10 | |
| AUS vs IND 3rd Test | Brisbane | Dec 14-18 | |
| AUS vs IND 4th Test | Melbourne | Dec 26-30 | |
| AUS vs IND 5th Test | Sydney | Jan 3-7, 2025 | |
| Sri Lanka in South Africa | SA vs SL 1st Test | Durban | Nov 27 – Dec 1 |
| SA vs SL 2nd Test | Gqeberha | Dec 5-9 | |
| England in New Zealand | NZ vs ENG 1st Test | Christchurch | Nov 28 – Dec 2 |
| NZ vs ENG 2nd Test | Wellington | Dec 6-10 | |
| NZ vs ENG 3rd Test | Hamilton | Dec 14-18 | |
| Pakistan in South Africa | SA vs PAK 1st Test | Centurion | Dec 26-30 |
| SA vs PAK 2nd Test | Cape Town | Jan 3-7, 2025 |
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