World Test Championship: Path for India to Claim the Top Spot in the WTC Points Table

After a 10-wicket defeat to Australia in the 2nd Test, the Indian men’s cricket team has fallen to the No. 3 spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table. The losing finalists of the 2021 and 2023 WTC editions now hold a PCT of 57.29%. Despite this drop, India remains in contention for a spot in the WTC final, scheduled to be held at Lord’s from June 11 to 15, 2025.

The top two teams in the WTC 2023-25 points table will compete for the championship in 2025. India still has the opportunity to finish among the top two, and they could even vie for the top position.

Should the Rohit Sharma-led team win the remaining three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they would finish the WTC 2023-25 cycle in first place. The third, fourth, and fifth Tests of the ongoing five-match series against Australia are lined up in Brisbane (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30), and Sydney (January 3-7).

If India secures victories in the next three Tests, they would conclude the WTC cycle with a PCT of 64.04%, while Australia would be limited to a maximum of 55.26%. India's primary competition for the No. 1 position would then be South Africa, which currently leads the points table with a PCT of 63.33%.

South Africa is set to face Pakistan in a two-match Test series at home. If this series, beginning December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion, ends in a 1-1 draw, South Africa would finish with a PCT of 61.11%, allowing India to secure the top position.

South Africa can only surpass India if they defeat Pakistan 2-0, resulting in a PCT of 69.44%. If they win 1-0, their PCT would max out at 63.89%. Conversely, losing both matches would drop South Africa’s PCT to 52.78%, potentially opening the door for Australia to finish in the top two and set up a rematch against India for the 2023 WTC final in 2025.