New Delhi . Team India has taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series by registering a resounding 165-run win in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, but India's troubles in the race for the final of the World Test Championship 2025-27 are not over yet. The victory in Galle has improved the Indian team's points percentage and strengthened its hopes for the finals, but the team still remains at fifth position in the points table. In such a situation, the remaining eight Test matches have become very important for India and to remain in the race for the finals, the team will have to give its best performance in almost every match.
Before the Galle Test, India had registered four wins in nine matches and its points percentage was 48.15. After this victory, India's PCT has increased to 53.33. However, despite this improvement, the Indian team is still behind Bangladesh. Bangladesh has scored 66.67 percent points with three wins in five Tests and is in fourth place. Australia tops the table with 77.78 percent. South Africa with 75 percent and New Zealand with 72.22 percent are ahead of India. It is clear from this that India will not be able to depend only on its own performance but the results of other teams will also play an important role in deciding the picture of the final.
India now has eight Test matches left in this cycle. If the team wins all these matches then its points percentage can reach around 74.07. In such a situation, India's chances of reaching the final will become very strong. But the problem is that even one defeat in these eight matches can greatly affect India's equation. In case of one loss, PCT may fall to around 68.52 while in case of two defeats it will reach around 62.96 and in case of three defeats it will reach around 57.41. That means now the importance of every test has increased manifold for India.
The second and last match of the series against Sri Lanka will be played at the SSC ground in Colombo from 23rd August. India will try to win this match and win the series 2-0. After this, Team India will face the challenge of New Zealand where it has to play two test matches. The conditions in New Zealand will not be easy for the Indian team and in recent years the Kiwi team has given a tough challenge to India in Test cricket.
After this, India's next big test will be the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. This series, to be held on home ground against a strong team like Australia, can prove to be decisive in the race for the WTC final. If India is successful in defeating Australia 4-1 or 3-1, then its path to the final will become much stronger. On the contrary, a big loss in the series can make India's equation difficult.
In WTC, 12 points are awarded for victory, while four points are awarded in case of a draw and no points are awarded in case of defeat. This is the reason why the importance of victory in every test has increased for India. Galle's victory has definitely brought relief to Team India but the ticket to the final is still far away. The upcoming eight Test matches are now going to be not just a battle to win the series for India but also a decisive battle to make it to the WTC final.