World Test Championship 2024-25: In the test match in Pune, the Indian cricket team had to face defeat by 113 runs against New Zealand. With this defeat, the team has also lost the three-match Test series against New Zealand. Due to this defeat, the Indian team has also suffered a setback in the points table of the World Test Championship (WTC). Before the Pune Test, the Indian team had 68.06 percent marks. Whereas after the defeat in Pune, his marks percentage has fallen to 62.82.
India still tops the WTC table and Australia is in second place. However, it is too early to say which two teams will reach the finals. Because 5 teams are still in the race for the finals. Only West Indies, England and Bangladesh are out of the race for the final. If a team ends its campaign with 60 percent points. So his chances of reaching the final will increase. India had qualified for the finals last time with 58.8 percent marks. Then in the final match, India had to face defeat by Australia by 209 runs.
So far, the Indian team has 98 points from 13 matches with 8 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw. Whereas the second-ranked Kangaroo team has 90 points in 12 matches with 8 wins, 3 losses and one draw. Only 20 Test matches are left in the current cycle of the World Test Championship (2023-25). In such a situation, the equations of the teams will be seen changing due to victory and defeat. Let's take a look at the current situation of all 9 teams…
1. India (62.82 percent): The equation is clear for the Indian team. India will have to win the last test match against New Zealand at any cost. After this, Australia will have to defeat 3-2 in the five-match Test series. That means the team will have to win four out of six matches. With this his marks will become 64.04%.
If the Indian team loses the third Test match against New Zealand, the team will need four wins and one draw on Australian soil. If India win only three and lose three of its remaining six matches, its points percentage will drop to 58.77. Which does not give complete guarantee of moving forward. In such a situation, the percentage of marks of Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand may be more than that of India.
2. Australia (62.50 percent): India's defeat in the series against New Zealand has increased Australia's chances of reaching the final. With Australia winning the series against India 3-2 and winning 1-0 in Sri Lanka, their score will reach 62.28 percent and they will be ahead of India. Australia needs to win five of its remaining seven matches to enter the final regardless of other results. Australia has to play 5 test matches against India on its soil, while it has to play two test matches on the Sri Lanka tour.
3. Sri Lanka (55.56 percent): Sri Lanka won the series against New Zealand 2–0. Due to which he remains in the race for the finals. Sri Lanka still has four more matches to play. If they win all those matches, their percentage will be 69.23 and they will book their place in the finals. If the Sri Lankan team loses one match and wins three matches, its percentage will become 61.54. In such a situation he has to depend on the other results. Sri Lanka has to play two test matches each against South Africa and Australia.
4. New Zealand (50.00 percent): The expectations of the New Zealand team have increased due to two consecutive wins against India. If they win the remaining matches then their score will be 64.29 percent. If the New Zealand team loses even one match, its percentage will reduce to 57.14.
5. South Africa (47.62 percent): If South Africa wins the remaining five tests, their percentage will increase to 69.44. Which will be enough to reach the finals. In case of four wins and one draw, South Africa's score would be 63.89 percent. Whereas in case of five wins and one loss, his percentage of points will be 61.11.
6. England (40.79 percent): After 1-2 defeat in the Test series against Pakistan, England is completely out of the race for the final. Even if England beats New Zealand 3-0 in their last series, they can still get a maximum of 48.86% points. England has to play all three matches against New Zealand on home ground.
7. Pakistan (33.33 percent): Pakistan defeated England 2-1 in the Test series at home. But his chances of playing the final are very less. Even if Pakistan wins its remaining four matches, it will still be able to reach only 52.38 percent. In such a situation he has to depend on many other results. Pakistan has to play two test matches against South Africa and West Indies.
8. Bangladesh (30.56 percent): Bangladeshi team is out of the race for the final. The 2–0 defeat against India and the defeat in the first Test against South Africa had a huge impact on Bangladesh. Even if they win their remaining three Tests, they will still be able to reach only 47.92%. Bangladesh has to play one test match against South Africa and two against West Indies.
9. West Indies (18.52 percent): West Indies team has already played four series. And he has only 18.52 percent marks. Even if West Indies wins the last four Tests, it will still have 43.59% points. West Indies has to play 2 test matches against Bangladesh and 2 test matches against Pakistan.
This is the third cycle of the World Test Championship. Which will run from 2023 to 2025. ICC has already announced the rules related to the points system for this third cycle. If the team wins the test match, it will get 12 points, if the match is drawn, 4 points and if the match is tied, it will get 6 points.
100 percent points will be added if the match is won, 50 percent points will be added if there is a tie, 33.33 percent points will be added if there is a draw and zero percent points will be added if the match is lost. A total of 24 points will be awarded in the two-match series and 60 points will be awarded in the five-match series. Because the ranking is mainly decided on the basis of win percentage in the points table. The third season of the World Test Championship Final will start from June 11, 2025 at the Mecca of cricket, Lord's.