After a crushing 113-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the second Test in Pune, India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final have taken a major hit. It was the first time India had been beaten at home by New Zealand in a Test series, and this loss also resulted in a drop in India's WTC points percentage to 62.82, giving them a narrow lead over Australia. With other teams like New Zealand and Pakistan achieving big wins in their respective Tests, the race for the top spot in the WTC is intensifying.
Despite the loss, India maintains their top spot in the World Test Championship points table, but their chances for the final are not guaranteed. Skipper Rohit Sharma expressed disappointment in the team's performance and stated that it's too early to think about the WTC final. With six games left, India will have to secure at least three more victories to maintain their position in the championship race. However, their next big challenge will be the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where their impressive record over the past six years makes them strong contenders.
South Africa registered an impressive win over Bangladesh in the first Test match at Mirpur, after a decade-long wait for a Test match win in Asia. The victory propelled South Africa to the fourth spot in the World Test Championship points table, taking them one step closer to securing a spot in the WTC Final next year at Lord’s. The star of the match for South Africa was Kagiso Rabada, who claimed nine wickets in the game, while Kyle Verreynne’s century in the first innings and Mehidy Hasan’s fighting knock for Bangladesh were other highlights of the match.
Despite challenging weather conditions, Rohit Sharma-led India dominates in Kanpur Test, securing a 2-0 win against Bangladesh. With this victory, India now holds the top position on the ICC World Test Championship points table. In order to secure a spot in the WTC Final at Lord's, India will need to win four more matches and draw one in their remaining eight tests before 2023. However, with strong competition from Australia and Sri Lanka, the race to the finals will be an exciting one for cricket fans to watch.
Cricket fans eagerly await the three-match Test series between England and West Indies, which will serve as part of the World Test Championship. England, currently placed ninth in the WTC points table, will be looking to redeem themselves after a 1-0 series loss on their last tour to the Caribbean in 2022. The rivalry between the two teams will surely make for an exciting and intense match at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
Australia's victory over New Zealand moves India to the No. 1 spot in the World Test Championship points table. Nathan Lyon's impressive performance of 6 wickets in the first match helped Australia defeat New Zealand by a margin of 172 runs. India now has a chance to further strengthen their top position in the upcoming Test match against England in Dharamsala starting on March 7th.