How Can India Qualify For WTC Final After Loss To New Zealand in Pune Test? Check Indian Cricket Team's Qualification Scenario for World Test Championship 2023-25 Summit Clash
Rohit Sharma and co suffered a home Test series after 12 years and the Pune Test defeat leads to the end of an 18 series-winning streak. Read below to find out how India can still make it to the WTC final after losing the IND vs NZ 2nd Test 2024.
How can the Indian cricket team qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final if they lose to New Zealand in the Pune Test? Well, this will be the question on the minds of many fans after Rohit Sharma and co suffered a crushing 113-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the Pune Test. With this result, the New Zealand national cricket team have become the first side to beat India in a Test series for the first time since 2012, when an England side led by Alastair Cook had come out on top against the Indian team then led by MS Dhoni. India had earlier lost the Bengaluru Test as well. While this series defeat will sting India, how does it impact the ICC WTC 2023-25 final scenario? Can India still qualify for the summit clash? India Lose Home Test Series After 12 Years! Tom Latham and Co Script History in Pune With 113-Run Win in IND vs NZ 2nd Test 2024; Mitchell Santner Stars as New Zealand Claim Unassailable 2-0 Series Lead.
India national cricket team have been an incredibly tough team to beat at home but New Zealand have been able to achieve the improbable, with excellent cricket in all three departments. India for the first time, after 12 years, have lost a Test series at home and this will sting the Indian cricket team for some time to come. Chasing 359, India were bowled out for 245 runs with Mitchell Santner being the star performer, taking a total of 13 wickets in the match. For India, Yashasvi Jaiswal struck 77 runs while Ravindra Jadeja managed 42 and there was no significant contribution from the others.
How Can India Qualify for WTC Final If They Lose Pune Test vs New Zealand?
Indian cricket team's path to the ICC WTC 2023-25 final will take a major hit if they lose the Pune Test match against New Zealand. This would then be India's second consecutive Test defeat at home and as a result, the Point Percentage (PCT) which is 68.06 at the moment, will go down to 62.82. This defeat means that India will now need to win four out of their remaining six Test matches if they are to make it to the WTC 2023-25 final without having to depend on the results of other teams. ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 Points Table Updated.
However, if Rohit Sharma and co are unable to win four of their remaining six Test matches, then they would have to rely on the results of other teams, namely Australia and Sri Lanka if they are to enter the WTC final for a third consecutive time. India have one Test remaining against New Zealand after which they would head Down Under to face Australia in five Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2024 04:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).