For World Test Championship final vs South Africa, India out of race after Sydney loss, Australia qualify
India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final were dashed on Sunday as they suffered a defeat in the fifth Test against Australia, conceding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 3-1 series loss. The defeat marked the first time in a decade that India has lost the prestigious trophy. Australia’s victory, achieved by six wickets, secured their place in the WTC final alongside South Africa.
Following the loss, India’s points percentage dropped from 52.77 to 50.00, reflecting their eighth defeat in this WTC cycle. In contrast, Australia elevated their points percentage to 63.72 with their 11th win of the cycle, having previously defeated India in the WTC final at The Oval in 2023.
The upcoming WTC final will take place at Lord’s from July 11-15, where Australia will face South Africa. This match will be particularly significant as it marks the first neutral Test between the two sides at Lord’s since 1912. India’s chances for a third consecutive WTC final faded rapidly over just three months, highlighted by a series of six defeats, including a whitewash against New Zealand at home in November.