"India can definitely reach the WTC final" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit Sharma and Co.'s chances after draw in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test

Aakash Chopra has expressed optimism about India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He noted that the visitors registering a 3-1 win in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 would be 'miraculous'.

The five-match series between India and Australia is tied at 1-1 after the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw on Wednesday, December 18. The result means India continue to hold the third spot in the WTC points table, with South Africa and Australia above them.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener was asked about Rohit Sharma and Co.'s chances of reaching the WTC final.

"India can definitely reach the WTC final. Of course, you need to win the series. The series cannot end in a draw. We will be out if the series ends in a draw. You had the chance of two wins and a draw before Gabba but since this game ended as a draw, you need to win the next two games," he responded (11:10).

Chopra noted that it will be magical if India emerge victorious in the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

"You will be able to leave here after winning the series 3-1. That would be absolutely miraculous because no one expected us to win in Perth but we won there. We didn't perform well in the pink-ball Test match in Adelaide. We collapsed there but we somehow held on to a draw in Gabba," he observed.

India will automatically qualify for the WTC final if they win the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests against Australia. While they can't afford to lose the series, any other result will leave them dependent on the upcoming series between South Africa and Pakistan, and Australia's subsequent clash against Sri Lanka.

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"Australia said they would start from Perth" - Aakash Chopra on BGT 2024-25 beginning with a difficult venue for India

India registered an emphatic 295-run win in the first Test in Perth. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Australia's decision to play the first three Tests against India in favorable venues didn't yield the desired results.

"Rain did help us slightly there (in Brisbane) but Melbourne and Sydney are two grounds that favor us. Previously we used to go to the easier venues at the start and there they (Australia) used to fall behind in the series, but this time Australia said they would start from Perth and then go to Gabba, even though there is forecast of rain there in the first three weeks of December," he said.

"They hosted the match early there with the thinking that they would reach Melbourne 3-0 and would have already won the series. However, nothing like that happened. So there are full expectations. I feel it is still possible," Chopra added.

However, Chopra opined that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma need to be among the runs for India to qualify for the WTC final. He added that a third consecutive entry into the summit clash would also help prolong the veteran duo's careers.