WTC Rankings: India Holds Third Place, Australia Second After Draw at Gabba; South Africa Leads

Brisbane, Dec 18 (NationPress) India currently occupies the third position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings after the impressive tenth-wicket partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep allowed India to achieve a significant draw against Australia in the rain-affected third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Gabba on Wednesday.

This effort not only kept the five-match series balanced at 1-1 but also created an exciting backdrop for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 qualification battle.

Both India and Australia experienced a decline in their WTC points percentage (PCT); India's dropped to 55.88 percent while Australia's fell to 58.89 percent. In contrast, South Africa leads the standings with a PCT of 63.33 and is well-positioned to participate in the one-off Test in June 2025, with Australia and India as their nearest competitors ahead of the forthcoming Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year Test in Sydney.

With only two matches left in the current WTC cycle, India faces a daunting challenge to secure a place in the final. Their existing PCT of 55.88 keeps them in third place, trailing South Africa and Australia. To surpass both teams and ensure qualification, India must perform exceptionally well in the upcoming Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

Although it's a tough task, it remains within reach. India must win both of their remaining matches against Australia to guarantee qualification. Any other result would leave their fate reliant on the outcomes of other matches to reach the Final at Lord's.

If India secures victories in both remaining Tests against Australia, their PCT would increase to 60.52, allowing them to surpass Australia, even if the defending champions manage a 2-0 win in their concluding series against Sri Lanka.

Should India lose one of the two remaining Tests, they would need Sri Lanka to achieve a whitewash against Australia, winning 2-0.

While India fights for survival, South Africa and Australia find themselves in a more advantageous situation. South Africa's dominant win over Sri Lanka in Gqeberha has established them as the team to beat. With a PCT exceeding 60 percent, they require just one victory in their last two Tests against Pakistan to secure their place in the WTC final. Even if they were to lose both matches, they would still remain formidable contenders unless India achieves an unlikely 3-1 series victory in Australia.

Australia, currently in second place, will head to Sri Lanka for two Tests. A 2-0 series victory would solidify their position in the final, assuming India falters in either Melbourne or Sydney.

For India, the solution is straightforward yet intimidating: win both Tests against Australia or face elimination.