India’s qualification scenario for the WTC final: India dominated Bangladesh by a margin of 188 runs in the first Test of the two-match series on Sunday, December 18. Brilliant performances by batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill, followed by bowling masterclasses from Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel, helped India take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The ongoing “red-ball” contest between the Asian teams is a part of the World Test Championship 2021-23.
India moved up to No. 3 in the World Test Championship points tally with a total of 55.77 percentage points after defeating Bangladesh in the series opener.
But later in the day, after the first Test of the three-match series between Australia and South Africa concluded, India’s chances of reaching the WTC final were strengthened. Prior to the conclusion of the first game in the series, Australia held the top spot on the table with a PCT (percentage) of 75, followed by South Africa with 60 points. Now, South Africa dropped to third place with a percentage point of 54.55 after suffering a six-wicket loss in less than two days. The drop in South Africa’s position means that India has now jumped to the No. 2 position.
For India to qualify for the summit in 2023, a few scenarios need to fall in their favour, let’s check out those:
India’s qualification scenario for WTC final
- First and most simply, India must overcome Bangladesh by a result of 2-0 to stay there. India is leading the series 1-0 after their outstanding triumph in game one, but they still need to prevail in game two. Without the assistance of their star players like all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and regular skipper Rohit Sharma, India managed to secure a victory. The future battle therefore will be as vital.
- India will play Australia in its upcoming Test match. It will be India’s final Test series in the current WTC 2021–23 cycle when the Rohit Sharma–led Indian team hosts Pat Cummins and company for a four-match series in 2023. India must win the series by a score of 4-0 or 3-0 in order to remain competitive because they cannot afford another loss going forward.
- South Africa is currently playing a three-match Test series against Australia on Australian soil. The Australians will be on a high when the two teams next face off for the Boxing Day Test as the first Test was finished in just two days. South Africa losing the remaining games will be ideal for India. India will then have the advantage against the Proteas. And if India defeats Australia in the home series the following year, they will attain the qualifying criterion of 64.35 percent, which is likely to secure them a spot in the WTC Finals.
WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP (WTC final) 2021-23 POINTS TABLE
| POSITION | TEAMs | PCT (%) | POINTS | WINS | LOSSES | DRAW | SERIES | PENALTY |
| 1 | Australia | 76.92 | 120 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 2 | India | 55.77 | 87 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | -5 |
| 3 | South Africa | 54.55 | 72 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 53.33 | 64 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | England | 44.44 | 112 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 6 | -12 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 42.42 | 56 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | West Indies | 40.91 | 54 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | -2 |
| 8 | New Zealand | 25.93 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 12.12 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
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