The road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final was fraught with ups and downs for India. Despite a strong start, critical losses at key moments and stiff competition saw them miss out on a third consecutive WTC final appearance. Here’s how the journey unfolded, Test by Test, leading to their elimination.

Qualification Scenario Before Bangladesh Series
India needed a minimum of five wins and a draw in their next 10 Tests to maintain a win percentage above 60. Achieving six wins would have elevated their percentage to 64.03, strengthening their bid for WTC final qualification.
Post Bangladesh Tour of India
India gave their WTC final quest a significant boost with a 2-0 series win against Bangladesh in Kanpur. This victory raised their points percentage to 74.24, consolidating their lead at the top of the WTC standings. A clean sweep against New Zealand at home would have secured their spot in the WTC final even before their tour of Australia.
After New Zealand Series Defeat
India’s plans suffered a setback with two defeats against New Zealand, leaving them needing a win in the third Test and favourable results against Australia. A 3-2 series win in Australia became the ideal scenario, though even winning two Tests would have left them reliant on other teams’ results.
Post New Zealand Series Clean Sweep
Before the New Zealand series, India’s PCT stood at 68.06. However, after multiple losses, their PCT dropped to 58.33, placing them second below Australia. Winning four of the five Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests became crucial, with their final chances potentially hinging on other series outcomes.
After Perth Test
India started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with a dominating victory in Perth, raising their points tally to 110 and their PCT to 61.11. This win kept their hopes alive, needing three more wins from the remaining four matches to secure a WTC final spot.
After Adelaide Defeat
The heavy defeat in Adelaide saw India’s PCT drop from 61.11 to 57.29, pushing them to third place. Australia’s win boosted their PCT to 60.71, intensifying the qualification race.
After Brisbane Draw
The draw in Brisbane left India needing victories in both remaining Tests to guarantee their WTC final spot. A 2-1 series win would require favourable outcomes in other series, with scenarios involving Australia and Sri Lanka becoming critical.
After MCG Defeat
Australia’s victory at the MCG lifted their PCT to 61.46, while India’s dropped to 52.78. South Africa secured their WTC final spot with a win percentage of 66.67. India now needed a win in the SCG Test and unfavourable results for Australia and Sri Lanka to keep their hopes alive.
After Sydney Test
India’s loss in the Sydney Test sealed their fate, eliminating them from WTC final contention. Despite early dominance, critical losses and the strong performance of competing teams resulted in India missing out on their third consecutive WTC final appearance.