Post India’s two home Test series whitewash in two consecutive years at the hands of New Zealand and South Africa, questions have raised over India’s current form heading into the future. The current Test captain of the Blue Brigade, Shubman Gill, has suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have a 15-day preparatory camp before every red-ball series.

The reports have claimed that Shubman Gill has given his suggestion to the higher management of the board to improve India’s test preparation during the informal meeting with selectors. Currently, India is not in a good position to qualify for the final of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.

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“Gill was very clear that the team needed better preparation before going into a Test series. There was an issue with the itinerary this season where the team didn’t have much time to prepare. Gill recommended to the Board that it would be ideal if there were 15-day red-ball camps before a Test series.” The BCCI source expressed, as claimed by the Times of India (TOI).

Shubman Gill suggests 15-day camp before Test series

Gill was appointed the Test captain before India made their trip to England to start the ongoing WTC campaign after the retirements of two veteran players- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli- along with Ravichandran Ashwin, who also decided step away from international cricket after the end of the Brisbane Test in Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024/25.

Before the Protea Test series, India traveled to Australia for a limited-overs series where most of the players, including the vice-captain Gill, were involved in the T20I series that ended on November 8. The Test players made a quick turnaround as the opening Test of the series began on a tough Eden Gardens surface on November 14.

It was the same case before India’s Test series against West Indies, where they got only a couple of days from the end of the Asia Cup 2025 final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Currently, India is placed in sixth position in the WTC 2025-27 points table with a win percentage of 48.15.

The Ashes 2025/26 series was already decided heading into the fourth clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as the England side also faced massive backlash from the supporters and the former players for their poor performances in the first three games in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

There were more speculations from the media afterwards about a video of Ben Duckett drinking too much and forgetting his way back to the hotel, which went viral. Australia were bundled out for 152 runs in the first innings, with Josh Tongue picking up five wickets in the innings.

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On the same opening day, the visitors were bowled out for 110 with only three of their batters converting their starts to the double digits. The home side also faced the same issue with the bat in the third innings, getting bundled out for 132 in 34.3 overs, with Travis Head being the leading run-getter individually. 

Australia face its first defeat in WTC 2025/27 cycle

Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes shared seven wickets between them in 18.3 overs during the third innings of the contest. Later, England completed the chase of 175 runs by four wickets in hand. The platform was set at the opening stand of 51 runs before Jacob Bethell played a mature knock of 40 runs in 46 balls.

Australia, despite their first defeat of the Ashes WTC 2025/27, remains at the top of the points table, while England also experiences the same fate of staying at seven. India has played at six with four wins and as many defeats in nine games. New Zealand is in second position, but they have played only three games so far.

Updated WTC 2025/27 points table

With Australia retaining the Ashes 2025/27 with a 3-0 lead in the five-match Test series against England, they have continued their stay at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025/27 points table as they have now gained six victories in as many games at a pct of 100. Meanwhile, England has dropped down to the seventh spot with just two wins in eight games.

South Africa, with three wins in four clashes, finds itself in second position at a pct of 75, while Sri Lanka warms the benches at three, despite getting just one win in their two clashes so far of the competition. New Zealand has a chance to leapfrog them if they win their ongoing third Test against the West Indies at Bay Oval.

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Pakistan is in fifth position while India, after their 0-2 series whitewash at home against the Proteas, stayed at the sixth position with four wins and as many defeats in nine encounters so far. England gave a slim chance of doing the inevitable in Adelaide, but couldn’t stretch the good work for long.

Know latest WTC 2025/27 points table updates

Australia posted a massive score of 371 in the first innings thanks to a 106-run knock of Alex Carey, while Usman Khawaja, turning up at number four, nailed a fine knock of 82 runs before Mitchell Starc, amassing 54 runs in 75 balls at a strike rate of 72, with the help of nine boundaries, as they posted 371 in the first innings.

England had the chance to bat long and deep and rule the hosts out of the contest, but their first innings score of 286 was never going to be enough. Still, they showed fight in the fourth innings. The only issue was their schoolboy errors from the batters, including Harry Brook, who aimed at reverse sweeping Nathan Lyon, only to lose his leg stump.

On the fifth morning, Jamie Smith and Will Jacks showed grit and patience, but all was too late and little to save the game as Australia retained the Ashes 3-0 with an 82-run victory.

World Test Championship (WTC) 2025/27 points table

India’s World Test Championship hopes have taken a serious hit following back-to-back defeats to South Africa at home, a result that has dropped them to fifth place on the 2025–27 WTC points table. With four wins from nine Tests and a modest 48.15% points percentage, the Men in Blue now face a fierce uphill battle to stay alive in the race for the 2027 final at Lord’s.

The new cycle had begun with optimism. Shubman Gill took over the reins from Rohit Sharma after India missed the previous final, and there was a sense of renewal in the setup. But after a spirited 2–2 draw against England, familiar issues resurfaced, inconsistent selection calls, an unsettled batting order and a continued vulnerability against spin. South Africa capitalised ruthlessly, handing India their second consecutive home whitewash.

Halfway through the cycle, India’s record reads 4 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, leaving almost no room for error as they brace for nine more Tests.

Qualification Math: What India Need

Historical trends show that teams usually need a PCT above 60 to qualify for the final. India can still reach that mark, but the path is narrow.

A breakdown of key scenarios:

• 7 wins from 9 Tests - PCT 62.96 (realistic qualification)
• 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss - PCT 61.11
• 6 wins, 3 losses - almost certainly eliminated

Winning all nine remaining Tests would take India to a commanding 74.07%, but given their schedule, that is an enormous challenge.

India’s Remaining Fixtures: The Road Ahead

Sri Lanka (Away, August 2026)

Sri Lanka’s turning tracks will test India’s much-discussed weakness against spin. Since 2021, spinners have dominated proceedings at home:

At Galle, spinners account for nearly 80% of all wickets, making batting a serious challenge for India’s inexperienced lineup.

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New Zealand (Away, Oct–Nov 2026)

New Zealand remains India’s most difficult away venue. Green, seaming pitches and quality fast bowling have historically troubled Indian batters.

India have been whitewashed on their last two tours and have won only once in New Zealand since 2009, a pattern that will worry the team heading into another critical series.

Australia in India (Home, Jan–Feb 2027)

Even at home, the challenge will be stiff. Australia’s spin attack of Lyon, Murphy and Kuhnemann has already tasted success in Asia. With India’s own batters struggling against spin recently, pitch preparation becomes a strategic dilemma, turning tracks may not necessarily favour the hosts.

Recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy results:

• 2017: India win 2–1
• 2023: India win 2–1

A similar margin may not be enough this time unless India enter the series with a stronger WTC standing.

A Huge Test Awaits Gill’s India

India must win at least seven of their last nine matches to have a realistic shot at reaching the 2027 WTC final. Their upcoming tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, both difficult in very different ways, will likely decide their fate.

Without solutions to their spin troubles, a reliable new-ball pair, and more stability in the batting order, India’s WTC dreams could slip away again. As it stands, qualification remains possible, but only with a dramatic turnaround in form, consistency and selection clarity. If the issues persist, India may need to wait until 2029 for another shot at a WTC final.

India surrendered before South Africa during the second Test of the two-match series with a massive defeat by 408 runs at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in reply to the 549-run target as the Blue Brigade could only managed to bat for two sessions. They couldn’t apply themselves with the bat against both Marco Jansen- the lanky pacer- and the off-spinner, Simon Harmer.

After losing consecutive Test matches against the Rainbow Nation, India dropped to the fifth position from the fourth position in the ongoing 2025/27 season of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. They now have 48.15 pct while the Proteas held their second position with 75% with three wins in four clashes.

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Australia, under the captaincy duo of Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, have stayed at the top of the points table with four wins in as many games while Sri Lanka is sandwiched between India and the Proteas in the points table.

Know latest WTC 2025-27 points table scenario after India's 0-2 series defeat vs South Africa

India’s 408-run defeat to the Proteas was their biggest lose in terms of runs in the longest format as their previous biggest defeat against Australia by 342 runs in Nagpur. They also experienced 341 runs against Pakistan in 2006 in Karachi.

The humiliating record of two home series whitewash defeat in Tests in successive years has also been recorded by India with them losing to New Zealand by 0-3 margin as they went down the hill on all occasions against Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai.

Latest points table for teams in WTC 2025-27

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is working to manage the different cricket formats. In the latest ICC meeting, there were key discussions on the future of the different cricket formats, and the future of the ODI and World Test Championship has been clarified, as the working committee is set to work on these. 

Last week, the ICC held its quarterly meeting in Dubai. Former New Zealand cricketer Roger Twose-led working group addressed the issues over cricket's three formats and also provided recommendations to the ICC board and Chief Executives' Committee (CEC).

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Next WTC cycle strategy

The potential two-tier World Test Championship talk is in the bin now, as the ESPNcricinfo report suggests that the next WTC cycle can see all 12 Test-playing nations. The ongoing WTC cycle (2025-2027) is the fourth WTC cycle, where nine teams participate. While the next WTC cycle will run between 2027 and 2029, the 12 teams are likely to participate after the massive unsupported for the potential two-tier WTC system. 

So, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland are likely to be part of the next WTC cycle, which is likely to begin in July 2027. However, the number of minimum matches and series for each team hasn't been decided yet. Also, there is unlikely to be any extra funding for hosting a Test match, which can be a massive issue for the lower-status Test teams, including Ireland. 

ODI Super League revival

Meanwhile, to make the One-Day International format great again, the ICC is thinking of reviving the ODI Super League. It has experienced only once, with 13 teams participating in the 2020-2023 ICC ODI Super League, which played an important role in the direct qualification for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. Unlike the present or previous direct ODI World Cup qualification model, which only considers the ODI ranking, the ODI Super League provided better and fairer chances to all participating teams to achieve the direct qualification for the ODI World Cup. However, the number of teams for the next ICC ODI Super League is yet to be confirmed, as it can only begin in 2028. 

2025 will forever be remembered as the “Year of Breakthroughs”, a time when underdogs rose, curses were broken, and long-suffering fans finally got their fairytale endings. From cricket pitches to football fields, teams that had lived in the shadows found their moment in the sun.

It all began in January when the Hobart Hurricanes stunned Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League final, chasing down a massive total with Mitchell Owen’s breathtaking 108 off 42 balls. From there, the floodgates of redemption opened, culminating in India Women’s historic World Cup triumph in November, their first-ever world title.

The Drought-Enders: A Table of Triumphs

ALSO SEE: 5 legends without whom India Women's could have not win World Cup 2025

Why 2025 Was Magical

Underdog Revolution: Hobart, Palace, and RCB, once symbols of heartbreak, finally became champions. Even PSG, long mocked for failing in Europe, delivered a flawless 5-0 rout in the Champions League final.

Personal Redemption: Harry Kane ended the “trophyless” jibes with a Bundesliga crown. Virat Kohli’s emotional “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” moment united Bengaluru like never before.

Records & Legacy: Deepti Sharma’s all-round heroics redefined the Women’s World Cup, while Aiden Markram’s hundred buried South Africa’s “chokers” tag.

From Geordie roars to Indian tears of joy, 2025 healed sporting hearts worldwide, proof that perseverance always pays off.

India enjoyed a decent seven-week period during the five-match Test series against England in the United Kingdom. They lost the opening clash at Leeds in Headingley before earning victory in the following game at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The Blue Brigade got defeated in the third fixture at Lord’s before drawing the Manchester Test. Their memorable Oval victory drew the series 2-2.

After the end of the Asia Cup 2025, the Shubman Gill-led side earned victory against the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The game got over inside three days after their bowlers went through the batting line-up of the opposition side.

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The second game of the series will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The home side, thanks to the twin centuries from Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, posted 518 runs in 134.2 overs before declaring. Sai Sudharsan, the number three player, cracked 87 runs in 165 balls at a strike rate of 52.73 with the help of 12 boundaries.

India stay at No. 3 in updated WTC 2025-27 points table with 2-0 series victory vs West Indies

West Indies got bundled out for 248 runs in the first innings, with several players getting starts and failing to turn them into good scores. Kuldeep Yadav earned his fifth five-wicket haul before they enforced the follow-on. The Caribbean side showed better application with the bat, relying on the twin centuries from Shai Hope and John Campbell.

India completed the 124-run chase by seven wickets as KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 58 runs. They stay in the third rank of the points table with four wins and two defeats in seven clashes. Australia and Sri Lanka stay ahead of the two-time WTC runners-up.

Updated WTC 2025-27 points table after IND vs WI 2025 Test series- 

A trio of Indian players impressed with incredible batting and bowling performances to gain a comfortable and huge victory over West Indies in the first Test of the two-match series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which has gained new rating points in the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings. The Shubman Gill-led side got an innings and 140-run victory inside three days in the WTC 2025-27. 

The right-arm fast bowler of the Blue Brigade, Mohammed Siraj, claimed seven wickets across two innings and was rewarded on the updated Test bowling ranking as he rose three spots to 12th in the table with a career-best rating. Jasprit Bumrah continues to maintain the top spot with three wickets in the same game, as Kuldeep Yadav jumps to the 21st rank. 

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Updated ICC Men’s Test bowling ranking

Mohammed Siraj rises to Number 12 in ICC Test bowling ranking 

India’s opening batter, KL Rahul, has scored a Test century in the contest and has moved up four places to 35th overall, with Joe Root holding the top rank. Ravindra Jadeja, celebrating another century, gains six spots to move to 25th overall. He also increased his advantages to the top of the Test all-rounder as Washington Sundar joins him to get into the 11th spot.

There were plenty of changes near the top of the latest T20I rankings after the conclusion of the New Zealand and Australia series. Mitchell Marsh was superb for their 2-0 series victory and moved to the 10th overall rank in the list of T20I batters.

New Zealand’s Tim Robinson has gained a whopping 58 places to equal 22nd on the list of batters, as Bangladesh’s Saif Hasan has gone up 17 spots to 18th. In the T20I bowlers’ rankings, Rashid Khan. Has gained six places to move to the second place and is only behind Varun Chakravarthy.

India proved their dominance in the 1st Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad by winning by an innings and 140 runs. The Indian pacers, led by Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, slaughtered the West Indies batting order by leaving them with just 162 runs in the first innings, which set the momentum for India’s strong performance.

In response, India’s batsmen showcased a brilliant mix of patience and aggression in scoring a massive 448/5 declared. Three batsmen KL Rahul (100), Dhruv Jurel (125) and Ravindra Jadeja (104*) scored centuries and Jadeja even showed more evidence that he is in great form by hitting an incredible five sixes! This innings provided India with a first innings lead of 286 runs which placed them in complete control.

On day 3, the bowlers of India maintained their control and dismissed West Indies for just 146 in their second innings. India’s all-round contributions with the bat and ball provided the first win in the opening Test of the series. Shubman Gill in his first Test as captain at home, began his captaincy in an emphatic manner.

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India’s Rise in World Test Championship Points

India’s win against West Indies has boosted their points percentage in the World Test Championship (WTC) table. After playing six matches, India now stands third with three wins, two losses, and one draw, giving them a PCT of 55.56.  The West Indies still sit at the bottom of the table with no wins in four matches. The win has helped India's position in the WTC points table as Shubman Gill's leadership has started well.