India won the two-match series against Sri Lanka 1-0, but the draw in the second Test has put their World Test Championship (WTC) final hopes in jeopardy. Here's how they can still qualify.
Sri Lanka denied India 12 points in Colombo with a spirited effort from Sonal Dinusha and their lower-order batters on the final day. The hosts were leading by only 16 runs and had four wickets in hand going into the fifth day, but they lost only two wickets to frustrate Shubman Gill and Co, who had to settle for a draw in the end.
The result saw India’s PCT drop to 51.52, and they now need 62 more points in the remaining seven Tests to get to at least 60%, which may still not be enough to see them through. India are currently in fifth place in the WTC points tablewith 68 points after 11 Tests.
Updated WTC 2025-27 points table after Sri Lanka vs India series
Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Deducted | Points | PCT |
1 | Australia | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 80.00 |
2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
3 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 72.22 |
4 | Bangladesh | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 55.56 |
5 | India | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 51.52 |
6 | Sri Lanka | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 33.33 |
7 | England | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 50 | 29.76 |
8 | West Indies | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 20.83 |
9 | Pakistan | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 19.05 |
Also read: Devdutt Padikkal puts away India’s No.3 debate – for now
Will India be able to qualify for the WTC final?
Out of seven Tests left in the WTC cycle, India will play two in New Zealand before facing Australia at home in a five-match series. If they manage five wins and a draw, Gill and Co will get to 61.11%, which may be enough depending on the other results. For context, South Africa and Australia qualified for the last WTC final with PCTs of 69.44 and 67.54, respectively, while India made the 2021-23 final with a PCT of 58.80.
In the ongoing cycle, however, India cannot afford more than one loss in their remaining matches as their PCT will drop below 60 in that case, which will, most likely, not be enough for them to qualify. Six wins and a loss will see them end this WTC cycle on 64.8, while it will go upto 70.37 if they win all the remaining seven Tests.
Here’s how India’s PCT will be affected depending on the results in their remaining seven Test matches:
1. Five wins, 2 losses - 59.26%
2. Five wins, 1 draw, 1 loss - 61.11%
3. Five wins, 2 draws - 62.96%
4. Six wins, 1 loss - 64.81%
5. Six wins, 1 draw - 66.67%
6. Seven wins - 70.37%
India are thus left with very little margin for error for the remainder of their WTC cycle if they are to take the field at The Oval in June next year for the summit clash.
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