ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final Date:The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the WTC final will take place at The Oval in London from June 7 to 11, with a reserve day on June 12. The final will feature the two top-ranked team of WTC point table. Australia have already secured a place in WTC final . Now let’s see can India qualify for WTC final 2023?
Australia has already secured their place in the final after their nine-wicket haul over India in the third Border-Gavaskar Test in Indore. It is Led by Steve Smith in absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins. In last years india has lost only 3 test matches in homeground. One against England & other two against Australia. This win gave Australia their 11th win in 18 matches in the 2021-23 cycle of championship. Ensuring they have an unbeatable lead at the top of the points table.
India’s chances of qualifying for the final have taken a hit after their defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Test series. They are currently in second place with a 58.93 winning percentage. But their points percentage (PCT) dipped from 64.06 to 60.29 with their fifth defeat in 17 matches in the 2021-23 cycle of the championship.
The defeat in Indore was a reality check for India, who had been dominating opposition on spin-friendly pitches. However, Australia’s spinners exposed India’s vulnerability, with Nathan Lyon earning the Player of the Match award for his impressive performance.He picked up 11 wickets, including an 8-wicket haul in the 2nd innings. The pitch was later rated poor by ICC, highlighting the challenges faced by both teams in the match.
What India should do to Qualify for WTC Final 2023?
To qualify for the final, India needs an outright victory in their next match against Australia in Ahmedabad. However, if they lose or play a draw, their fate will depend on the outcome of the SL-NZ series. Sri Lanka will play two Tests on their New Zealand tour. And their result will have a significant impact on India’s chances of making it to the final.
Apart from India and Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa are currently in third and fourth place, respectively, in the points table. However, their chances of qualifying for the final depend on the result of the India-Australia series and Sri Lanka’s performance against New Zealand.
How can team India still qualify for WTC final 2023?
In short , Team India has to win at least 3 matches out of 4 to meet Australia in the WTC final match. However, if team India manages to win less than 3 matches in the IND vs AUS series, then India’s qualification will depend on the performance of Sri Lanka and South Africa in the last remaining two test series.
Criteria for India to Qualify in WTC Final After India vs Australia 3rd Test
After the end of the third Test match between India and Australia, the World Test Championship (WTC) points table has taken a new twist. Australia has confirmed their place in the WTC final after defeating India in the 3rd Test. And secured the top spot in the rankings with a PCT of 69.0. However, India’s qualification scenario for the WTC final has become quite difficult. Let’s take a look at the different scenarios that can unfold after the India vs Australia 4th Test.
If India Defeats Australia 3-1
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If India manages to win the final Test against Australia and secure a 3-1 victory in the Border-Gavaskar series, they will grab a PCT of 63.0 and finish as the 2nd team in the points table. In this case, Australia’s PCT will drop to 65.0, but they will still qualify for the WTC final. Sri Lanka’s 2-0 victory against New Zealand will not affect the standings, and they will follow Australia and India in the 3rd place of the WTC table.
If India Defeats Australia 2-1
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If the 4th test between Ind & Aus ends in a draw & India wins the series 2-1 lead, then Sri Lanka will have a chance to outplay India from the WTC final. India will then have to hope that New Zealand manages to beat Sri Lanka . And it does not go in favor of Lankan’s. If that doesn’t happens & Sri Lanka whiteswashes the blackcaps then SL will surpass India in the WTC points table and take the 2nd spot with a PCT of 61.0. India’s PCT will drop to 59.0 in this scenario & Sri Lanka and Australia can qualify for the WTC final.
If India Tie Series 2-2 Against Australia
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If India vs Australia Test series ends in a 2-2 tie, Sri Lanka have to whitewash the Kiwi’s for the WTC final ticket . However, A 1-0 victory or 1-1 tie will not allow Sri Lanka to take the 2nd spot in the WTC points table.
Conclusion: India’s qualification to the WTC final highly depends on the outcome of the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand series. Anything can happen in the game of cricket. All eyes will be on the India vs Australia 4th Test and the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series to see which teams qualify for the final.
FAQ’s of World Test Championship 2023 Facts
Q. What is the World Test Championship 2023 final venue?
A. The Oval in London has been finalized as the venue for the World Test Championship 2023 final.
Q. What is India WTC 2023 upcoming schedule?
A. India’s WTC 2023 upcoming schedule is the four-match Test series against Australia at home starting from February 9.
Q. Can England qualify for the WTC final 2023?
A. England have an outside chance of sneaking into the final but for that to happen, they need India and Sri Lanka to lose all their remaining matches and South Africa to not draw more than two matches.
Q. Can South Africa qualify for the WTC final?
A. Yes, South Africa can still qualify for the WTC final but for that to happen, they need to win both their home Tests against West Indies, Sri Lanka to not win more than one Test against New Zealand and India to not win 21 or more points from their series against Australia.
Q. Is there any chance of Pakistan to qualify for the WTC final 2023?
A. No, Pakistan cannot qualify for the WTC final as they are currently not in the top four of the ICC Test rankings. Only the top four teams at the end of the WTC cycle will qualify for the final.
Q. How many matches does India need to qualify for the Test World Cup?
A. India’s qualification for the Test World Cup, also known as the World Test Championship, is based on the percentage of points they have earned in the matches they have played. To qualify for the final, they need to finish in the top two of the points table at the end of the cycle. The number of matches they need to play depends on the number of matches played by other teams and the points they earn.
