NEW DELHI: India's dreams of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final were severely dented after New Zealand handed them a historic 0-3 series whitewash at home. It was their first-ever series loss in such a manner on home soil, as India lost the third Test by 25 runs at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
Consequently, India slipped to second place in the WTC standings with 58.33 percentage points (PCT), trailing Australia's 62.50 PCT.
India had dominated the WTC standings for most of the 2024-25 cycle but their recent three consecutive losses cost them their top spot. They now face a tough challenge in reclaiming their position as several teams are closely competing.
New Zealand's impressive sweep of the series boosted their tally to 54.55 PCT, bringing them close to Sri Lanka's third-place position with 55.56 PCT, a thin margin of just 1.01 PCT.
The battle for the final spots in the championship has become intense after the India-New Zealand series.
South Africa are also a strong contender, sitting fifth with 54.17 PCT. Four of the top five teams in the standings have their PCTs very close to each other, ranging between 54 and 59, which promises a thrilling finish as the championship cycle progresses.
Following the top five, England hold the sixth position with 40.79 PCT. Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Indies round off the standings with 33.33, 27.50, and 18.52 PCT respectively.
The close competition among the top teams adds to the excitement for cricket fans as the final leg of the WTC cycle approaches.
India's defeat was a significant development in the race for the World Test Championship final. The top teams are very close in the standings, making the upcoming matches crucial. Fans can expect nail-biting games as teams vie for the coveted top positions. With Australia now leading and New Zealand swiftly climbing the ranks, every match will play a pivotal role in determining the finalists for this prestigious tournament.
