WTC 2023-2025: How Pakistan can help India qualify for final?

India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final have been hit with a massive blow after their recent performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Despite winning the first Test against Australia in Perth, the Indian team's loss in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide means that their margin for error is extremely limited. To make matters worse, the rain-marred third Test in Brisbane is seemingly out of India's reach.

It is worth noting that Rohit Sharma’s men need a 4-1 win in the BGT 2024-25 for a direct qualification to the WTC final, that is without depending on other results. If the Gabba Test ends in a draw, India will have to win at least one of the final two Tests against Australia to keep their dream alive. The next game of the series will be the Boxing Day Test from December 26 in Melbourne, which will be followed by the New Year's Test from January 3 in Sydney.

If the ongoing series ends 2-2, India will qualify only if Sri Lanka beat Australia by a 1-0 margin in their upcoming two-match series. If Australia win that series by any margin, it will nearly end India’s chance to qualify. However, there will be an outside chance for India to qualify if Pakistan end up beating South Africa in their series. In such a case, South Africa will miss out while India and Australia will battle it out in the WTC final. 

India look to go for draw in Gabba Test

Speaking of the Indian team, they are currently up against Australia in Gabba for the third Test. Australia posted 445 runs in the first innings on the back of centuries from Travis Head (152 off 160) and Steve Smith (101 off 190). The hosts followed it up with an impressive bowling performance, limiting the Indian team to 252/9 by end of the fourth day. India trail the Aussies by 193 runs and will hope to put in a fight on the final day.