India tops the World Test Championship points table; all set to meet New Zealand in the final

India beat England in the fourth and final Test match in Ahmedabad to claim the last series of the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21. With this 3-1 series win, India made sure they stayed at the number one position in the points table, in terms of points percentage. They will now take on New Zealand, the second-place side, in the final of the ICC WTC, which is scheduled to be played at the famous Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in June. 

The Indian team defeated England in three days in the last Test by an innings and 25 runs. Day three started with India having a lead of 89 runs in their first innings. Rishabh Pant’s knock of 101 along Washington Sundar’s overnight unbeaten fifty had put India in a solid position after they bowled out England for 205 runs in their first innings. 

Sundar and Axar Patel batted aggressively and defensively at the same time against the England attack early on day three. Sundar marched along for his maiden Test ton. Their partnership flourished and went past the hundred-run mark. At the same time, England started to feel the pressure of the leading increasingly. 

India end at the top of the points table of ICC World Test Championship 2019-21

At 365 for 7, Axar Patel got run out unfortunately for a well-made 43 off the last ball of an over. Ben Stokes bowled the next over where Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Siraj were dismissed. Sundar stayed stranded on 96, missing out on a century for the second time in this series. 

England found themselves in trouble early on in their second innings. Lack of partnerships hurt the visitors, as they slipped from 20 for 3 to 30 for 4 to 65 for 6. The only good knock came from down the order by Dan Lawrence, who scored 50 runs before England got bowled out for 135. For India, Axar Patel took five wickets while Ashwin ended with five scalps of his own. Patel ended with 27 wickets in three matches of this series while Ashwin took 32 wickets in four matches. 

With this win, the Indian team jumped to a points percentage of 72.22 with 520 points. During the course of the ICC WTC, India has won 12 matches and their only series loss had come against New Zealand in March 2020 away from home. The Blackcaps have a points percentage of 70 with 420 points. Australia missed out on the opportunity to be in the final, as England had to draw this series in order for them to qualify. 

Australia’s percentage stayed at 69.2 with 332 points after their 2-1 series loss against India at home. Australia would also be mulling over their Test series in South Africa, which got postponed due to Cricket Australia feeling unsafe to take their players away from the country during these tough times. England slipped to the fourth position with a points percentage of 61.44%  and 442 points after this series loss.