Team India has paved their way to the top of the World Test Championship point table for the 2023-25 cycle. Earlier placed in the sixth spot, India took a dramatic leap on the table with the courtesy of the highlighted win in the second test against South Africa. India now has played four games in the cycle with a couple of wins, a draw and a loss.
Test Round-up
Despite losing two points to slow over-rate in the first test and a humiliating innings and 32 runs defeat, India has now a solid position with 26 points and a win percentage of 54.16. With the ongoing final game of the Pakistan tour of Australia and the upcoming South Africa tour of New Zealand for two tests, it is highly anticipated that the top rank for India will not be very cemented for a long period.
The World Test champions Australia, who stand in fourth position with a 50 per cent win record in seven games, look strong in the third test and will move to the first position at the end of the game with a clean sweep against Pakistan. Similarly, South Africa is also sending its team to New Zealand for two tests. However, their team misses out on most of the senior players due to their domestic league SA20, which may help New Zealand, who are placed third with a fifty per cent win record after their two games against Bangladesh.
India vs England 2024
However, it won’t be difficult for India to retain the first position at the World Test Championship points table, as they host England for a five-tests series in January-March. It would be a great opportunity for India to reach the top again before stepping into a competitive T20 cricketing season, including the highly-anticipated T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA soon after the Indian Premier League.