South Africa’s 176-run victory over Australia in the third and final Test at Newlands, Cape Town, has reshaped the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table.
The defending champions completed a remarkable comeback to seal the three-match series 2-1, moving into second place and pushing Australia down to third.
New Zealand have taken advantage of Australia's defeat to move to the top of the standings, while India remain fourth with a points percentage (PCT) of 51.52. The result has added another twist to the qualification race, with Shubman Gill and Co. needing a strong finish to secure a place in the WTC 2027 final.
WTC Points Table 2025-27 After South Africa vs Australia
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 72.22% |
| 2 | South Africa | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71.43% |
| 3 | Australia | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 69.23% |
| 4 | India | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 51.52% |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 47.62% |
| 6 | England | 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 38.54% |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 33.33% |
| 8 | West Indies | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 26.92% |
| 9 | Pakistan | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4.63% |
Standings as of October 31, 2026. Source: ICC.
How Did South Africa’s Win Impact The WTC Standings?
South Africa suffered a 214-run defeat in the opening Test in Durban but bounced back with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha. They then produced another commanding performance in Cape Town, bowling Australia out for 111 while defending a target of 288.
Simon Harmer starred with the ball, claiming six wickets in Australia's second innings to help the Proteas complete a 176-run victory.
The series win lifted South Africa's PCT to 71.43, while Australia's percentage dropped from 75 to 69.23. New Zealand, with 72.22 PCT, consequently moved to the top of the table.
How Can India Qualify For The WTC 2027 Final?
India have seven Tests remaining in the current WTC cycle. They will first travel to New Zealand for a two-match series before hosting Australia in a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The equation is straightforward, India need to finish among the top two teams in the standings. Winning all seven remaining matches would take their PCT to 70.37, giving them a strong chance of reaching the final.
According to the current qualification projections, winning six of their remaining seven Tests would take India to approximately 65 PCT. However, that might not be enough, depending on how the other contenders perform.
A difficult series in New Zealand could make India's task significantly harder, putting additional pressure on them to deliver against Australia at home.
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India Need Favourable Results From Other Teams
India's qualification hopes will also depend on the performances of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. The Black Caps have 10 Tests remaining, while South Africa have seven and Australia have nine.
New Zealand's upcoming assignments include India, Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan. South Africa will host Bangladesh and England before travelling to Sri Lanka, while Australia face New Zealand at home before their tour of India.