CRICKET
South Africa Secures WTC Final Spot, Pressure Builds on India and Australia
Temba Bavuma-led South Africa secured their spot in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s by defeating Pakistan in the first Test of their two-match series. Despite a dramatic collapse to 99/8 while chasing 148, Kagiso Rabada (31*) and Marco Jansen (16*) steered South Africa to a two-wicket victory, ensuring they topped the WTC standings. This victory means that the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan no longer affects their qualification for the WTC final, and the pressure is now squarely on India and Australia to secure their spots.
South Africa’s WTC Final Qualification
By winning the first Test, South Africa guaranteed a place in the June 2025 WTC final, leaving India and Australia fighting for the remaining spots. The Proteas’ victory has shifted the focus onto the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as both India and Australia cannot afford any more slip-ups. South Africa’s dominance in the WTC standings has added intensity to the remaining fixtures, with both teams now facing a do-or-die scenario.
What Must India and Australia Do to Qualify for the WTC Final?
India’s points percentage dropped from 57.29 to 55.88 after the drawn Test in Brisbane. Currently, they sit third in the WTC standings, behind South Africa and Australia. With only one match left after the Melbourne Test, India faces a challenging path to the final. Australia, with three matches remaining (one against India and two against Sri Lanka), has more opportunities to improve its standing.
India and Australia are contesting for a total of 228 points, making their head-to-head matches in Melbourne and Sydney vital. Here’s a breakdown of their qualification scenarios:
India and Australia’s WTC Scenarios:
- If India wins at the MCG but draws the series 2-2 (Australia wins in Sydney):
- India: 126 points (55.26 PCT)
- Australia: Can qualify with two draws or one win in Sri Lanka.
- If India draws at the MCG and wins in Sydney:
- India: 130 points (57.01 PCT)
- Australia: Must beat Sri Lanka 2-0 to qualify.
- If India loses at the MCG but draws in Sydney:
- India: 118 points
- Australia: Can overtake India if they win in Sri Lanka.
- If India draws both the MCG and Sydney Tests:
- India: 122 points (53.50 PCT)
- Australia: Needs to win at least one match against Sri Lanka to qualify.
Updated WTC Standings:
- South Africa (Q) – PCT 66.67
- Australia – PCT 58.89
- India – PCT 55.88
- New Zealand – PCT 48.21
- Sri Lanka – PCT 45.45
- England – PCT 43.18
- Pakistan – PCT 30.30
- Bangladesh – PCT 31.25
- West Indies – PCT 24.24
With only a few matches left for India and Australia, every point counts. The outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will likely determine who joins South Africa in the WTC final at Lord’s in June 2025.