Cricket Updates: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced Team India for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. This series, starting August 15th, will be a crucial part of the World Test Championship (2025-27). Given the current points table, this isn’t just a series for India, but also a major test to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive. Currently, the Indian team is in fifth place with a points percentage (PCT) of 48.15, while Australia is at the top. Therefore, if Team India wants to make it to the 2027 WTC final, it will need to perform exceptionally well in its remaining matches.
Read: Captain Ajinkya Rahane, who shattered Australia’s pride at the Gabba, retires from all forms of cricket, saying it’s the right time to move on.
India now has a total of nine Test matches remaining. After playing two Tests against Sri Lanka, the team will tour New Zealand for a two-match Test series. Australia will then travel to India for a high-profile five-Test series. These nine matches will determine whether India remains in contention for the final.
If the Indian team wins at least one of these nine matches, they will be able to win the final. If India wins at least seven Tests, its hopes of reaching the finals remain intact, although in that case, it will have to monitor the results of other teams. With eight wins, India’s points percentage could reach around 68.5, significantly strengthening its position. If Team India manages to win all nine matches, its PCT will increase to around 74.1, making it highly likely to secure a place in the final.
India played in the World Test Championship final twice in 2021 and 2023, but fell short of the trophy both times. India was defeated by New Zealand in the 2021 final and Australia in 2023. India failed to qualify for the 2025 WTC final. Therefore, every Test match will prove crucial for Team India to reach the 2027 final.
Read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi makes a big jump in the ICC T20I rankings, reaching his career-best ranking.