WTC Final Scenarios: India's qualification chances if Border-Gavaskar Trophy ends in draw | Cricket News - Times of India

WTC Final Scenarios: India’s qualification chances if Border-Gavaskar Trophy ends in draw | Cricket News – Times of India

Posted by Admin December 19, 2024 Cricket

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Team India (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: The India-Australia Test series stands at a tense crossroads following the rain-affected draw in the third Test in Brisbane.
With the five-match series level at 1-1, the remaining games in Melbourne and Sydney will be decisive, not just for the series outcome but also for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final qualification scenarios.
Scenario 1: Series Ends 2-2
If the series ends in a 2-2 draw, India will conclude the WTC cycle with a percentage points tally (PCT) of 55.26%. To qualify for the WTC Final under this scenario, India would rely on other results:

Australia must lose their series against Sri Lanka by at least a 1-0 margin.
Alternatively, South Africa must suffer a 2-0 defeat in their series against Pakistan.

Scenario 2: Series Ends 1-1
A 1-1 draw in the India-Australia series will reduce India’s PCT to 53.51%, making qualification trickier. Under this outcome:

South Africa must lose both matches of their series against Pakistan (2-0).
Or, Australia must either lose 1-0 to Sri Lanka or draw their series 0-0.
In the event of a 0-0 draw between Australia and Sri Lanka, India would be tied with Australia at 53.51% but would edge ahead due to having more series wins in the WTC cycle (three versus two).
However, a 2-0 win for Sri Lanka over Australia would eliminate India from contention as Sri Lanka’s PCT would surpass India’s.

India’s performance in the remaining Tests will play a pivotal role, but qualification hinges heavily on external results.
Consistency in batting and bowling, especially addressing middle-order collapses and over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah, is crucial.
Meanwhile, favourable weather and conditions during other teams’ fixtures could also shape the race to the WTC Final.