South Africa Clinches WTC Final Spot After Pakistan Collapse, What’s Next for India?

This is what a Boxing Day Test is all about! While India and Australia are getting ready to face each other for the last day of the Test match in Melbourne, South Africa and Pakistan are having a great time at SuperSport Park in Centurion. South Africa has produced a good Test match and they have clinched their berth in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the first time ever. All they required was a victory and they got it. The match was completed in dramatic fashion by a pair of tailenders, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, who battled for the match to keep South Africa from losing and thus winning the match. This result therefore poses the question; What does it mean for India as they continue their quest for WTC Final victory? Please follow along.

In this Test match South Africa knew that they need to produce good results in this series against Pakistan to get into the WTC final. A middle order collapse created some sort of concern but a good lower order and an excellent bowling attack gralloched a vital victory.

Marco Jansen’s silent 16* and Kagiso Rabada’s game-changing 31* in a key 51-run stand for the ninth wicket left Shan Masood and his team heartbroken. They both came together and turned what seemed like a disastrous match into a stunning victory which brought South Africa’s point percentage to a point that the opponents cannot catch up with. As a result of this victory, South Africa is now assured of at least coming in second place in the WTC standings no matter the result of the 2nd Test between South Africa and Pakistan.

South Africa’s win eliminates one of the crucial variables in India’s qualification scenarios. With the Proteas securing a spot, the equation for India is now straightforward but tougher.

Here’s How India’s Path to the WTC Final Looks:

Statistically, there are three possible ways through which Team India can improve their chances of qualification for the WTC Final 2025.In the worst case, Team India cannot drop to a position worse than the current one, but they can secure the top spot if they win.

India must win both the remaining BGT Tests.

• A 3-1 series win would push India's points percentage to 61.11%, thereby ensuring them the second position above South Africa. India will have nothing else on their minds as they look at victories in Melbourne and Sydney.
• If India have BGT at 2-2: Then, India would be dying for Australia not to win any match against Sri Lanka in their next two-game away series.
• If India have BGT 2-1: In case this happens, India will have a cushion of seeing Australia win a game against SL. This means the final would be between India and South Africa.
• If India lose 3-1: All over for India for WTC Final chances.