1 week ago
Rahul Dravid Backs India Despite Tough WTC Final Race
India are trying to finish in the top two of the World Test Championship standings.
The top two teams will play in the final at The Oval.
India are currently fifth, so they need many good results.
They have started well by leading Sri Lanka 1-0.
Winning the next Test in Colombo would move them into fourth place.
India will then play two Tests away against New Zealand.
Dravid says New Zealand will be difficult because many young Indian players have limited experience there.
India will later host Australia in five Tests, giving them another chance to earn points.
India are fifth in the World Test Championship standings with a points percentage of 53.33.
Rahul Dravid says India have fallen behind but should not be written off because of their quality.
India lead Sri Lanka 1-0 after winning in Galle and could move into fourth with victory in Colombo.
India face two Tests in New Zealand before hosting Australia in a five-Test series during the remainder of the WTC cycle.
Dravid says New Zealand’s conditions and the absence of experienced players could make India’s qualification push difficult.
- Who
- Former India head coach Rahul Dravid discussed India’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.
- What
- India are attempting to move from fifth place into the top two and qualify for the final.
- Where
- India are playing Sri Lanka, will travel to New Zealand and will host Australia.
- When
- The current WTC cycle runs from 2025 to 2027; reports place the New Zealand series in October or November and the Australia series from January 2027.
- Why
- India have fallen behind in the standings and need a strong run in their remaining Tests to qualify.
Reasons for India’s optimism
India’s qualification challenges
Overall qualification prospects
Reasons for India’s optimism
Dravid says India still have the quality to remain in contention and should not be written off.
India’s qualification challenges
India are fifth and face an uphill task to secure one of the top two places.
Sri Lanka series
Reasons for India’s optimism
India’s 1-0 lead, including the Galle win, provides a positive start, and a Colombo victory would lift them to fourth.
India’s qualification challenges
India remain behind Bangladesh and need strong results in the rest of the cycle, not only against Sri Lanka.
New Zealand tour
Reasons for India’s optimism
Winning two away Tests would provide an important boost in the race and help India build momentum.
India’s qualification challenges
New Zealand are difficult to beat at home, and many young Indian players have limited experience in those conditions.
Experienced players
Reasons for India’s optimism
The current squad’s quality gives India a chance despite changes to the team.
India’s qualification challenges
Dravid says India will miss the experience of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Australia series
Reasons for India’s optimism
Five home Tests against Australia offer India a substantial opportunity to collect points.
India’s qualification challenges
Australia’s players are expected to be highly motivated because the team has not won a series in India, making the contest especially competitive.
Key facts
- India’s position
- India are fifth in the WTC standings.
- Points percentage
- India have a points percentage of 53.33.
- Current series
- India lead Sri Lanka 1-0 after a 165-run win in Galle.
- Qualification target
- The top two teams qualify for the WTC final at The Oval.
- New Zealand assignment
- India are scheduled to play two away Tests; reports differ on whether the series begins in October or November.
- Australia assignment
- India will host Australia in a five-Test series beginning in January 2027, according to the reports describing the 2025-2027 WTC cycle.
- Standings above India
- Australia lead with 80 percent, followed by South Africa on 75 percent, New Zealand on 72.22 percent and Bangladesh on 55.56 percent.
- Remaining Tests
- One report says India have seven Tests remaining, including five against Australia.
Quotes
Rahul Dravid
Former India head coach and cricketer
“A lot of the young Indian boys have not played in those conditions, so that's going to be a big challenge. We're missing the experience of Virat and Rohit, Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara, these kinds of guys who've probably been there the last time India went. So that will be an interesting series as well.”
thestatesman.com
thehansindia.com
“I’m hoping they do. It’ll be a great run if India can qualify for the WTC final from here. They’ve fallen behind a little bit, but the kind of quality that the Indian team has, you’re not going to write them off at any stage. They started off well against Sri Lanka, so that’s a good first step.”
indianexpress.com
thestatesman.com
thehansindia.com
rediff.com
Sources
Race to WTC Final: Rahul Dravid backs India despite uphill battle
‘It’ll be a great run if they can qualify from here’: Rahul Dravid on India’s WTC final hopes
'It'll be great run if they can qualify from here': Dravid on India's WTC final chances
India have fallen behind in WTC final race, says Rahul Dravid
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