WTC final qualification scenarios: How can India qualify for the World Test Championship final after loss in Melbourne Test?

India's chances of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final suffered a major blow after their defeat in the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Melbourne.

After this defeat, India's chances seem to have further diminished and appear extremely bleak at the moment. At present, South Africa are at the top of the standings with seven wins, 88 points, and 66.67 percentage points from 11 matches.

With their recent win, Australia are now placed second with 10 wins from 16 games. They now have 118 points and 61.46 percentage points. India are third with nine wins from 18 Tests. They have 114 points and 52.78 percentage points. Notably, South Africa have already qualified for the WTC final, which leaves just one spot remaining.

For Rohit Sharma and his men to have a chance of qualifying for the WTC final, they will first have to win the fifth and final Test of the series in Sydney. Their percentage will then go up to 55.26. Notably, the Sydney Test is India's last game in this cycle.

If Australia lose in Sydney, their percentage will go down to 54.26. However, Australia still have two Tests against Sri Lanka after this series. For Rohit and Co. to make it to the finals, they will need Sri Lanka to beat Australia 2-0. Should Australia manage to draw even one game, they will end with a percentage of 56.48, which will see them through to the finals.

India are now in a must-win situation to keep even the slightest hopes, of making the final, alive. A draw or a loss in Sydney will see them exit from the race to face South Africa in the WTC final.

---

India suffer huge defeat in Melbourne as Australia go 2-1 up

The visitors' hopes of winning the BGT 2024-25 went down the drain after their huge defeat in the fourth Test in Melbourne. The hosts are now 2-1 up with one final game to go in Sydney.

For India to save the series and retain the BGT, they will have to bounce back and win the Sydney Test. Batting first in Melbourne, Australia put the visitors on the backfoot with a total of 474 in the first innings.

In reply, Yashasvi Jaiswal's 82 and Nitish Kumar Reddy's stellar ton took India to 369. The second essay saw Jasprit Bumrah lead the charge as Australia were bowled out for 234.

However, India had a difficult task in hand as they were set a target of 340 runs. In pursuit, they were bowled out for 155, failing to even hold on to a draw. Australia won the game by 184 runs to take a 2-1 series lead.