WTC final equation: What if India draw or lose 4th Test vs Australia?

Rohit Sharma and co. have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, but their route to the final, if they lose their fourth Test, will be decided by another series-New Zealand versus Sri Lanka.

WTC final equation: What if India draw or lose 4th Test vs Australia?

IND vs AUS

Australia were the frontrunner who secured a berth in the final of the 2021-2023 World Test Championship Final following their thumping victory over India on the brutal Indore pitch. Though it was envisaged India will race to the final easily after their monstrous win in the first and second matches, the calculation once again started when Australia registered their nine-wicket victory in the third Test. That’s the only win they needed to smoothly reach the final of the one-match showpiece event at The Oval, which is scheduled to take place in June this year.

Rohit Sharma and co. have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, but their route to the final will be decided by another series-New Zealand versus Sri Lanka. Ahead of the much-awaited final, the cycle of the 2021-2023 WTC is now down to four matches across three series. Apart from India-Australia and Sri Lanka-New Zealand, South Africa will be locking horns with West Indies today (Wednesday, March 8) in Johannesburg. But this match is a dead rubber.

Back to New Zealand’s two-match series against Sri Lanka. If Sri Lanka whitewash the Kiwis 2-0, and India lose the fourth Test, then the scenario can change.

Related: “Lot of talk around pitches,” Rahul Dravid speaks about Ahmedabad pitch and ICC’s ‘poor’ rating for Indore pitch

What if India draw or lose 4th Test vs Australia?

What if India draw or lose 4th Test vs Australia?
IND vs AUS

Australia are the No. Test team and stand atop the WTC points table with 68.52 PCT. And even if they lose the fourth Test, there won’t be much hassle from their end, given that they have reached the final.

India follow Australia on the points table with 60.29 PCT. To assure themselves a spot in the final, they must win the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. If they win, they reach the final, if they lose, they won’t want Sri Lanka to sweep the Black Caps 2-0. 

So here are the equations for India to qualify for the WTC Final:

1. If India win, they will reach the final regardless of the match results of New Zealand versus Sri Lanka series.

2. If India draw, they can still qualify if Sri Lanka fail to whitewash New Zealand.

3. If India lose, then they will be hoping that their Asian arch-rivals Sri Lanka should not whitewash New Zealand 2-0.

Meanwhile, the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will commence on March 9 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. New Zealand will also take on Sri Lanka from March 9 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

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