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.

ALSO SEE: Gautam Gambhir Creates Unwanted Record, Becomes First Indian Head Coach To Lose Five Home Tests

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).

See Also: Nepal's Team to play six T20's in uttarakhand before World Cup qualifiers

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.

See Also: "Shameful and..."- Gautam Gambhir hits back at Kris Srikkanth for trolling Harshit Rana's India selection

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. 

See Also: [WATCH] Suryakumar Yadav decodes Rohit Sharma in one word before revealing his toughest bowler ever faced

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.

See Also: Why Rohit Sharma was sacked from ODI captaincy before India tour to Australia?

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.

South Africa won the third cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 against the defending champions Australia at the iconic ground at Lord’s. Many Protea fans and the upcoming generation of players in the longest format truly lived the moment and perhaps had dreamt of achieving it in the future. But how?

South Africa won’t play any home Test in their next season. That’s a harsh truth: that the current WTC champions will be without a home Test match for more than a year because they have sandwiched the SA20 between the away Pakistan series and the upcoming T20 World Cup. And Kagiso Rabada, their premier pacer, has displayed his disappointment on that aspect.

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“This has been an issue we have been talking about for the past three years, or even longer. The nice thing is that it’s good to see that Test match cricket is still, you know, being watched and watched with closed eyes. I mean, there have been some really fantastic games that have been played. So, that’s well and truly alive.” Rabada expressed during the recent interaction on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Kagiso Rabada laments South Africa’s lack of Tests

They will also play two away Tests in India. Next year, they will host Australia for four Test matches. However, this lack of red-ball fixtures won’t be an advantage for the Proteas for the next WTC cycle. Rabada said that money is the last thing that everyone is after in this era.

Kagiso Rabada laments the lack of Test match cricket played by South Africa 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/BFniJLm76v

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 12, 2025

“Unfortunately, now, the game is more about money. You know, what’s going to make the most money, and that’s the challenge that you are looking at right now, it comes to more of an inclusivity for the other cricketing nations because, let’s talk a fact here, is that you need all the other nations to make world cricket. And that’s been a challenge.” The current pacer claimed.

The opening Test of the away Pakistan series will begin on October 12 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore before the action shifts to the Rawalpindi Stadium for the second encounter on October 20.

The two-tier Test cricket controversy has been running for more than a decade, and it has intensified with the growing presence of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). While the BCCI, ECB, and CA, the governing cricket bodies of India, England, and Australia, respectively, are the top international cricket boards, their views play very important roles in the future of the game. While the BCCI has shown support for the two-tier Test cricket system, the ECB and CA have brought two different mindsets to the two-tier Test cricket.

The two-tier Test cricket model, which can be seen in the future ICC World Test Championship, can divide the 12 Test members into two divisions. In the ICC Annual Conference, it was the most significant topic. The ICC has also formed a working group, led by former New Zealand cricketer Roger Towse, to understand the effectiveness of the two-tier Test cricket model. 

See Also: Know when India plays next; Full list of upcoming Test series

ECB chairman raises voice against two-tier Test cricket

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Richard Thompson isn't confident enough with the two-tier Test cricket system, as they can't afford to lose the chance to play against their Test rivals Australia and India.

Recently, in the BBC's Test Match Special, Thompson said, "There's a lot of options that we've got to look at - tiers would be one of them. We wouldn't want, as England, we may go through a fallow period, and that means, what, we fall into Division Two and we don't play Australia and India? That couldn't happen. There has to be a sense that common sense needs to play out here."

Thompson feels that the ICC WTC can work in a better way with the improvement of the cricket calendar, which is congested by various T20 leagues. 

The ECB chairman added, "The World Test Championship could work better than it does. It has definitely improved the narrative, [and] it has created a relevance. Seeing what it meant for South Africa to win - who are crushed by rugby in their own country - and seeing players I know really well, like Graeme Smith, in tears on the outfield, that was a real moment seeing them win. As much as I was critical that they turned up with a 'B' team when they played New Zealand [in 2024], it was still good for the game when the underdog wins.

"But the reality of it is, the World Test Championship, if it was improved upon and certain changes were made, maybe you don't need two tiers of Test cricket. What you do need is a schedule that makes a lot more sense than it currently does, and that must include the volume of bilateral cricket that you play, white-ball and red-ball, and recognising that from 2028, we have an Olympics. So what happens in 2028, when we have an Olympics, and our best 11 cricketers have got to go to LA for two weeks in the middle of July? That is going to throw up some challenges."

Cricket Australia CEO open-minded

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Todd Greenberg wants to see stronger versions of the present middle-ranked teams in Test cricket.

Greenberg is open-minded about the two-tier Test cricket system, as he feels that it should work better for the other Test-playing nations to earn their support. He further added that the other boards' CEOs also view it similarly. 

India’s victory at the Kennington Oval over England on the fifth day of the final Test of the five-match series has helped them not only draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, but it has also pushed them in the points table of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. It was their second win of the trip after the huge 336-run win at Edgbaston. 

Even though it would still be the early days in the competition, the Blue Brigade managed to use their feet and move into third place in the standings with the victory in the final fixture, earning 12 crucial points. They now have 28 WTC points on the board and a points percentage of 46.67%.

See Also: List of prize winners from ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

Despite having the same number of wins and draws as the Shubman Gill-led side, Ben Stokes’ army has found itself in the fourth position with 26 points and a points percentage of 43.33. It was severely impacted by the two-point deduction for the slow over rate during the third Test of the series at Lord’s, which they went on to win dramatically.

India climb up to third place in WTC 2025-27 points table

Australia, under the captaincy of Pat Cummins, has found itself at the top position with a three-wicket whitewash series victory over the West Indies in the Caribbean. West Indies and Bangladesh remain the only two sides to feature in the series and not earn a victory yet in the longest format of the cycle.

Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand are the three sides that have not played a single game of the WTC. Both Proteas and Blackcaps faced Zimbabwe away from home, but those were not part of the WTC cycle.