The India vs Australia series is well set, with 3 matches done and no clear leader so far, as the scoreline stands at 1-1. This makes the upcoming Boxing Day Test interesting, as it will be exciting to see which team will take the lead in the contest. India won the first match by a massive margin of 295 runs under Jasprit Bumrah, but India lost the second Test match under Rohit Sharma, and the Gabba Test ended in a draw. After each game, we are seeing lots of fluctuations in the WTC table, and there are many permutations and combinations being considered to see how India can qualify. Before the New Zealand Test at home, everything looked clear, with Team India needing just 3 wins against New Zealand to qualify for the WTC finals. But suddenly, they lost three matches, and the scenario changed completely.
Now, everything depends on the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. So, what if India wins the series by an impressive margin of 3-1? They are looking solid, and we can expect the team to do an impressive job once again, just like they did in previous tours. Let’s see how India can qualify for the WTC finals if they win this series 3-1.
Will India qualify for WTC if the IND vs AUS Series ends 3-1
The best thing India can do here is to win the Test series 3-1, although it won’t be easy, as the defending WTC champions know how to fight back. However, from India’s perspective, since the Gabba Test ended in a draw, we saw both teams’ percentages drop. Now, India can reach a maximum of 60.52% with 138 points if they win the next two T20 games in Melbourne and Sydney. If Rohit and the team are able to do that, they will likely knock Australia out of contention. After this series, Australia has two Test matches in Sri Lanka, and they will only be able to finish with a 57% PCT, which means they will be knocked out despite their remaining innings. Therefore, India will aim for a 3-1 result to secure their spot in the WTC final.
What if India loses series against Australia
Now, if India loses the series, whether it’s 1-2 or 1-3, they will finish the WTC cycle with a percentage points of around 51.75%. This means, realistically, they will be out of contention, as this won’t be enough to secure a place in the top two of the WTC standings. Australia will likely qualify then, along with South Africa. Although the Australia vs Sri Lanka series also matters, if India loses here, their chances will be significantly diminished. India cannot afford to lose the upcoming Test matches, as after this, they have no more Test matches left in this WTC cycle.
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