A loss or a draw in the first Test against New Zealand will not jeopardise India’s chances of making it to a third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final.
India, which currently sits at the top of the WTC standings, needs to win five of the remaining eight Test matches (including the opening Test against New Zealand) in the current cycle to secure its spot in the summit clash.
Rohit Sharma and Co. currently face the Kiwis in the first of three Test matches at the M. Chinaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After the opening day was washed off, the second day started early with India opting to bat in overcast conditions.
However, with the threat of rain hanging over the remaining days of play, the match could end in a draw. If that happens, the host will need to win the next two Tests before heading Down Under for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, starting in November.
WTC 2023-25 POINTS TABLE
| Pos. | Team | Mat. | Won | Lost | Drawn | Points | PCT |
| 1 | India | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 98 | 74.24 |
| 2 | Australia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 90 | 62.50 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 55.56 |
| 4 | England | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 93 | 45.59 |
| 5 | South Africa | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 38.89 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 37.50 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 34.38 |
| 8 | West Indies | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 18.52 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 16.67 |
*after Pakistan vs England first Test
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