Archive · 11 Aug 2026
What India needs to do to reach WTC final showdown
The World Test Championship is a big cricket competition where teams play series of Test matches against each other.
Teams earn points for winning, and they are ranked by the percentage of points they could have won.
Australia, South Africa and New Zealand are currently the top three teams.
India is in fifth place, so they need to win many of their remaining matches to qualify.
India still has nine matches left to play.
They will play two matches in Sri Lanka, two in New Zealand, and five at home against Australia.
If India wins all nine matches, they would reach about 74 percent, but that might still not guarantee a place.
India also needs other teams to lose points so the numbers work out.
The top two teams will fight in the final at a famous cricket ground called The Oval.
Australia lead the World Test Championship standings with 87.5%, followed by South Africa (75%) and New Zealand (72.22%).
India are fifth on 48.15% after winning four, losing four and drawing one of their nine Tests so far.
India have nine Tests remaining: two in Sri Lanka, two in New Zealand and five at home against Australia.
Winning all nine remaining Tests would lift India to 74.07% on Points Percentage, while seven wins and two draws would reach 66.67%.
Bangladesh are fourth on 58.33% and face away series against Australia and South Africa that carry a risk of dropping points.
- Who
- The Shubman Gill-led Indian cricket team, competing with Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh for a place in the World Test Championship final.
- What
- The race to qualify for the World Test Championship final, with India needing a strong run of results to climb from fifth place.
- When
- The final is set for next year (2027), with qualification decided through the current cycle including series from October 2026 to January 2027.
- Where
- The Oval (final venue); qualifying Tests are scheduled in Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India, Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh.
- Why
- India must win heavily and hope teams above them drop points to secure one of the top two spots on the Points Percentage table.
- Points for a win
- 12
- Points for a tie
- 6
- Points for a draw
- 4
- WTC table leader
- Australia - 87.5% after eight Tests
- India's current PCT
- 48.15% (fifth place)
- India's record so far
- Four wins, four losses, one draw in nine Tests
- India's remaining Tests
- Nine (two in Sri Lanka, two in New Zealand, five at home vs Australia)
- Final venue
- The Oval