India Face WTC Qualification Pressure Ahead of Sri Lanka Test Series

Former India batter, Aakash Chopra has opined that the chances of Indian team making it to the ICC World Test Championship finals in the on-going 2025-27 cycles hinges heavily on the upcoming two-match test series against Sri Lanka, which begins later this month. He also warned that the visitors to the emerald island are in a ‘tough position’ for the summit clash race.

India will start their campaign in Sri Lanka with the first test that starts on August 15. After nine matches that the team has played so far in the current WTC cycle, India are placed in the fifth position in the points table, with four wins and four losses, which gives them a points percentage of 48.15.

Meanwhile, the host nation, Sri Lanka sits just below India at sixth position. They have registered one win, two losses, and two draws so far and have a points percentage of 41.67. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted how important the current standings of the two countries are and how it could change depending on the outcome of the series.

He pointed that a 2-0 loss of team India would seriously dent their chances of qualification for the finals, and boost the hopes of Sri Lanka. He said, “If we lose 2-0, we will remain at only 39 percentage points, and Sri Lanka will jump to 61 percentage points, and they will move up the rankings too to number four position. Sri Lanka will be in the running if they beat India 2-0. Then they have a realistic chance of going forward, or else it is a so-near-yet-so-far story for them.”

He further added that if India wins by 2-0 margin, it would improve their position, although not dramatically. Whereas, a drawn series would do little for either team. “If we win 2-0, we will reach 57.58 percentage points. If we do a clean sweep, we will gain a little. If we draw the series 1-1, we won't gain anything because we will be at 48.48 and Sri Lanka will be at 44.44, and both the positions will remain at their current positions.

The Indian opening batter and commentator, Chopra, underlined the fact about the level of difficulty India has to qualify for the WTC finals based on their schedule. After the series against Sri Lanka, India will travel down under to New Zealand for a two-match test series before playing Australia in a five-match series at home, early next year. According to Chopra, the short away test series leave little room for error.

He said, “going forward we have a two-match series in New Zealand, where it is difficult to win. Even if you lose one match, you lose 50 percentage points. It is going to be a tough one and after that, there are five matches against Australia in India. India is in a tough position.”

The series at home against Australia is also expected to be a tough one and will test India, especially after the setbacks the team has had recently against the SENA countries. New Zealand and South Africa whitewashed India in successive home series. The defeat against the proteas was their first home series loss against them since 1999-2000.

Under Temba Bavuma, South Africa also completed the rare feat of winning the ICC Test Championship title and a Test series in India in the same year.