India’s busy Test season is set to kick off with two red-ball matches against Bangladesh at home. The Indian cricket team will be hosting the Bangla Tigers and New Zealand for a total of five Tests in the coming months before embarking on a trip Down Under for a five-Test Border-Gavaskar series against the Australians later in the year. This season holds significant importance as India, the serial World Test Championship (WTC) finalists, have the opportunity to make it a hat-trick of finales. Currently atop the nine-team standings, they have their destiny in their own hands, and a potential title is certainly within reach for Rohit Sharma and his troops.
India’s performance in the WTC thus far has been commendable. Out of the nine Tests they have played, India has won six, lost only two, and settled for a draw in one, placing them on top of the standings with a PCT (Percentage of points) of 68.52. With a strong start to the season against Bangladesh, India’s PCT is expected to rise, but several scenarios should be considered to understand their path to the finals.
If India sweeps the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, their PCT will rise to the mid-70s, precisely to 74.24. Such an impressive PCT would generally be considered healthy for a place in the finals. However, this does not fully guarantee a ticket to the finale as India would still have eight more matches to go in the WTC cycle. In these matches, a series of below-par performances could significantly impact their standings. Each win fetches a team 12 points, while each tie and draw bring in 6 and 4 points, respectively, and a loss results in no points.
For India to secure a spot in the WTC final, they need to win at least six out of their remaining ten matches. Achieving six victories would result in a PCT of 64.03, which should suffice to clinch a spot in the final. This season is pivotal for India as they face competitors including New Zealand and Australia, teams that are known for their strong performances in the Test arena.
. A consistent streak throughout the next ten matches will therefore be essential.
Turning the focus onto Bangladesh, their recent 2-0 sweep over Pakistan has significantly brightened their chances of making it to the final, although the journey ahead remains challenging. Bangladesh currently sits in fourth place with a PCT of 45.83. They are slated to play four away Tests, two each against India and West Indies, and will also host South Africa for a two-Test series. If Bangladesh manages to win all of their upcoming six Tests, their PCT will rise dramatically to 72.91. However, considering the strength of their opponents, this might prove to be too tall an order. Winning four of these six matches would place their PCT at 56.25, which might not be adequate for making it to the finals.
Elsewhere in the WTC standings, most teams still have a fighting chance to qualify for the final. The bottom-placed West Indies are the only team definitively out of the race, while eighth-ranked Pakistan retains a slim mathematical possibility of reaching the summit clash. As it stands, no team has solidified their place in the final, and it appears unlikely that any team will do so anytime soon, making the ongoing season a compelling contest.
In summation, India’s forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh is more than just a cricket clash; it’s a crucial juncture that could shape their path in the World Test Championship. With a high-stakes journey ahead against teams like New Zealand and Australia, every match will hold importance in determining whether Rohit Sharma and his team can achieve their hat-trick finale dream. The Bangla Tigers, on the other hand, will look to build on their recent successes while facing a formidable challenge ahead. The coming months promise intense competition and exciting cricket, keeping fans eagerly waiting to see who makes it to the coveted World Test Championship final.
