- By Himanshu Badola
- Mon, 16 Dec 2024 06:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
WTC Final Scenarios, India vs Australia: India are in desperate need of major success in the ongoing five-match Test series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
After registering a famous win in the first Test at Perth, India allowed Australia to bounce back and make it 1-1 with a dominating win in Adelaide.
The World Test Championship final is at stake and India are now in a tricky situation in order to make it to their third successive appearance in the marquee contest.
The race for making it to the WTC final has intensified with four teams - South Africa, India, Australia and Sri Lanka, currently in contention.
Currently, South Africa are at the top of the WTC points table ahead of Australia and India who are placed second and third respectively.
While India and Australia are currently engaged in the third Test of the series in Brisbane, the rain seems to be getting the better of the match when it comes to results.
India are left behind in the Brisbane Test after Australia put up a show with the bat in their first innings, that too after losing the toss.
On Saturday, play was abandoned on the first day of the third Test between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane, owing to bad weather.
However, the forecast for the remaining days in Brisbane isn't motivating either, and there is a possibility that the game might end in a draw.
In that case, the draw result of the Brisbane Test will also leave a massive impact on WTC standings and India's chances to qualify for the WTC final.
The series will be evenly poised with two matches remaining, in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
Let's take a look at how India can qualify for WTC final if Brisbane Test ends in a draw.
India will then need to win the remaining two matches in Sydney and Melbourne in order to qualify for the WTC final without depending on other results.
If India win the series 2-1, Sri Lanka must avoid a whitewash against Australia.
If India draw the series 2-2, Sri Lanka need to beat Australia in the series by any margin.
If India draw the series 1-1, Sri Lanka must draw or beat Australia.
India will crash out of the race if they lose the series by any margin.
The third day of the Brisbane Test also witnessed very little amount of action as rain spoiled the majority part of the day. India have scored 51 runs for the loss of four wickets with KL Rahul (33) and skipper Rohit Sharma (0) at the crease.
The visitors are still 394 runs behind and will have to grind hard with the bat to stay in the contest.