India’s WTC Final Chances Remain Strong

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts
India faced an 8-wicket loss against New Zealand in Bengaluru. However, India is still in a strong position to secure a spot in the ICC World Test Championship final. New Zealand’s win improved their standings, but India remains secure.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth
India faced an 8-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru. However, this loss will not impact India’s chances of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. India remains at the top of the WTC table, with two more Tests against New Zealand on the horizon.

New Zealand successfully chased down a target of 107 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Their victory propelled them to fourth place in the WTC standings, while India’s percentage dropped from 70.83% to 68.06%.

New Zealand's win in first #INDvNZ Test shakes up the #WTC25 standings 👀

More ➡️ https://t.co/aGNt1GAOJA pic.twitter.com/FmuwwDwTyZ

— ICC (@ICC) October 20, 2024

This defeat raised questions about India’s capabilities, but their chances of reaching the final remain strong. India needs to win at least four of their remaining seven matches to secure their place. If they achieve this, their win-loss percentage will rise to 67.54%, which should guarantee a spot in the final.

India’s main rivals, Australia and South Africa, face their own challenges. Even if Australia wins all their remaining seven Tests, their maximum percentage would only reach 76.32%.

Meanwhile, New Zealand also has a chance to qualify for the WTC final, but they must win all their remaining matches. This would give them a win-loss percentage of 64.29%, which is a daunting task.

Thus, India controls its destiny. If they can win two matches in their final series, their place in the final will be almost secured.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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