India was cruising towards the World Test Championship (WTC) final until the New Zealand team did the unthinkable, defeating India in a Test series in India. India lost its first home Test series since 2012, ending an 18-consecutive home Test series win record.
With India’s loss and Pakistan winning the last two Tests against England, the WTC points table has seen some changes. While India still tops the WTC table, now it does so just by the skin of its teeth. India’s WTC fate largely depends on the 5-match Test series that will be played in Australia, starting November 22nd.
World Test Championship Standings
India stands at the top of the WTC points table, followed closely by Australia. The following table shows the complete WTC points table:
Note: The above WTC standings are as of 29/10/2024.
Points System for WTC 2023-25 Cycle
The following are certain points that will help you understand the points system for the WTC standings:
- 12 points for each win.
- 6 points for a tie.
- 4 points for a draw.
- Teams are ranked based on the percentage of points won.
- The top two teams will progress to the final at Lord’s in 2025.
- Points are deducted for the slow over rates.
Top 5 Teams & The Maximum Points They Can Get
According to the current status of the WTC points table, India, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa are the top 5 teams. The following table will show the current PCT, maximum PCT, and Tests remaining for these top 5 teams:
India’s Chances of Making It to the World Test Championship Final
The Indian team was racing towards the WTC final until the spirited New Zealand defeated India in two consecutive Tests, securing its first Test series win in India. India now has six more matches, one against New Zealand at home and five against Australia in Australia. India must win at least four out of the remaining six matches to make it to the WTC final without depending on other results.
The upcoming away Test tour of Australia will be critical for Team India’s chances of making it to the WTC final. While Team India has won twice consecutively in Australia, this time, considering the form of Indian batters, the challenge would be much tougher.
Final Thoughts
The WTC standings show that there will be many twists and turns in the upcoming Test matches, as no team has been able to book a spot in the WTC final yet. All the top five teams can make it to the final, as they have some matches in hand. If Team India makes it to the WTC final, it will be the team’s third consecutive WTC final, having lost on both previous occasions.