New Delhi: India’s chances are appearing bleak as the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 continues to intensify with four teams still in contention. South Africa, Australia, India are Sri Lanka are currently vying for the two spots in the final. While South Africa are currently at the top of the WTC points table, Australia and India are in the second and third spots, respectively.
South Africa are favourites to make it to the summit clash as they are only one win away from securing a spot in the final while India and Australia have a healthy chance as they continue to lock horns in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The five-match series is currently locked 1-1 with both India and Australia managing a win apiece in the first two Tests.
The ongoing third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane has been marred by rain. While the first day was washed out with only 13.1 overs of action possible, there were no rain interruptions on Day 2 as centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith propelled Australia to 405/7 at stumps. Rain played spoilsport once again on Day 3 with frequent interruptions during India’s first innings after Australia were bowled out for 445 runs.
The weather forecast in Brisbane doesn’t look promising for the remaining two days of the Test match, leading to concerns regarding the implication of a washout on India’s WTC final chances. A draw in Brisbane will come as a huge blow for India as it will further complicate their chances of making it to their third successive WTC final.
How India can qualify for the WTC final if 3rd Test against Australia is washed out?
If the third Test is washed out due to rain, it will end in a draw with both India and Australia sharing points. However, it won’t be good news for India, who will have to win the remaining two Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney to earn direct qualification for the WTC 2024-25 final without depending on other results.
It will further complicate matters for India as it won’t be easy for the visitors to win the 4th and 5th Test matches in a row against Australia. While two victories in the remaining two Tests will guarantee India a spot in the WTC final, a solitary win and a draw will keep them in the hunt but they will have to depend on other results. However, if India lose one of the remaining two Tests, they will be all but out of contention.
Australia will take on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a lot will depend on the result of the series. Here is a look at all possible scenarios for India if the 3rd Test at the Gabba is washed out due to rain –
If India win the 4th and 5th Test against Australia they will secure a spot in the WTC 2023-25 final.
If India win the series 2-1, they would hope Sri Lanka can avoid a 2-0 whitewash against Australia.
If India draw the series 2-2 against Australia, they would hope Sri Lanka can beat Australia in the two-match series by any margin.
If India and Australia draw the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-1, India will hope Sri Lanka can beat Australia.
A series defeat against Australia will end India’s hopes of making it to the WTC 2023-25 final.
The play was called on Day 3 of the 3rd Test between India and Australia after only 33.1 overs of action. Australian pacer Mitchell Starc ran riot with the new ball as he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill in quick succession before Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins got rid of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, respectively to leave India in tatters at 51/4 on Day 3.
A complete washout in the third Test against Australia at the Gabba will be a huge blow to Team India’s chances of qualifying for the WTC 2024-25 final. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
