EXPLAINER: The Indian cricket team is currently on Sri Lanka tour. Where, the first match of the 2-match Test series to be played between the two teams is being played at the Galle International Stadium. Rain caused a lot of disruption in the first two days of the Galle Test, due to which only 116 overs could be played. Not only this, there is a possibility of rain in Galle in future also, due to which there is a possibility of a draw in the first test match being played between India and Sri Lanka. But, if this Test is a draw, then India's problems will increase significantly and its chances of making the WTC final will be affected.
Rain increased the tension of Team India
The first match of the Test series between India and Sri Lanka is being played at the Galle International Stadium. The play of the first two days of this match was badly affected by rain. The result was that where a game of 180 overs could have been played, only 116 overs could be played. In such a situation, if there is further rain in the Galle Test and the match is stopped, then there will definitely be chances of a draw, which Team India will never accept.
Why doesn't India want a draw?
Team India would never want any of the two matches being played with Sri Lanka to end in a draw. In fact, if Team India wants to reach the final of the ICC World Test Championship, then it will have to win in Galle at any cost. If the match ends in a draw, then Team India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship file will be hurt. This is the reason why India would not want to see it ending in a draw.
Difficulties will increase if there is a draw
The Indian cricket team is ranked fifth in the points table of the ICC Test Championship. Team India has played 9 matches so far, in which it has won 4 matches, lost 4 matches and 1 match has been drawn. India has 52 points and 48.15 PCT. In this way, Team India is at fifth position, while Team Sri Lanka is at fifth position with 20 points and 41.67 PCT.
According to ICC rules, under the World Test Championship, if a Test match is won, both the teams get 12 points and if it is drawn, both the teams get four points. Before the match, India has 52 points in 9 matches, while its points percentage is 48.15% and Team Gill is currently at fifth position. If the Galle Test is a draw in any aspect then India will have 56 points (52+4) in the WTC with 10 matches. But its points percentage will fall from 48.15% to 46.67%. There will be no impact on the ranking of Team India and its fifth position will remain intact.
A look at the current #WTC27 standings after Bangladesh's stellar victory against Australia 👀
📝: https://t.co/TJt9cbipMepic.twitter.com/STlrZu6ZUy
— ICC (@ICC) August 16, 2026
How many matches does India have to play in this edition of WTC?
The Indian cricket team still has to play a total of 9 more matches in the 2025-27 edition. Team India will play a 2 test match series on Sri Lanka tour. After this, Team India will host New Zealand and Australia and play a 5-match home test series. In such a situation, India still has 9 matches to play in this edition, only after which it will be decided whether Team India will reach the final or not.
How can India reach the final?
The Indian cricket team has to play 9 matches in the World Test Championship 2025-27 and one match is going on at the Galle International Stadium. If the Indian team has to reach the finals, then it will have to try to win all the matches, so that it does not have to depend on other teams. Not only this, if the team is successful in winning 7 of these matches, then Team India will have to depend on the results of other teams. If Team India wins 8 matches, then its PCT will become 68.5 and if Team India wins all its remaining 9 matches, then its points percentage will become 74.1 and its claim to go to the final will become stronger.
WTC final hopes will get a blow
If the Galle Test being played with Sri Lanka is a draw, then it will prove to be a big blow for Team India's hopes of playing the WTC Final because the equations of playing in their file will become difficult. The result will be that Team Gill will have to win all the remaining matches to reach the finals. In case of a draw, India will be far from easily achieving the cut-off PCT (usually above 60%) on its own and may have to depend on the results of teams like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
How is the weather going to be in Galle on the fourth and fifth day?
It rained on the first and second day of the Galle Test match being played between India and Sri Lanka, due to which only 116 overs could be played. Now let us know how the weather of Galle is going to be on the fourth day and fifth day. While there is a 56% chance of rain on Tuesday, there is a 57% chance of rain on Wednesday. Here's a look at what the weather will be like on both days:-
Fourth day: Chance of rain 56%, temperature 30 degrees to 28 degrees, wind 13 kilometers per hour, humidity 75%.
Day five: Chance of rain 57%, temperature 30 degrees to 26 degrees, wind 26 kilometers per hour, humidity 75%.
See here the points table of ICC World Test Championship
| rank | Team | match | Victory | Garland | draw | score | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 84 | 77.78% |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 75.00% |
| 3 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 72.22% |
| 4 | bangladesh | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 66.67% |
| 5 | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 48.15% |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 41.67% |
| 7 | England | 13 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 38 | 24.36% |
| 8 | Pakistan | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 22.22% |
| 9 | west indies | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 20.83% |
Also read: Amazing start! Mohammad Siraj gave success to India in the very first over, Sri Lanka on backfoot