India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) took a major blow after their defeat in the pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide. The third Test ended in a draw, making India's path to the WTC final even more challenging.
India required a 4-1 win in the five-match series to secure direct qualification after their clean sweep against New Zealand at home. However, with the series now tied at 1-1, their chances of qualification are slim. To stay in the race, India must win both of their remaining Tests for direct qualification to the WTC final.
Should India win their last two games, they would have a better Percentage of Points (PCT) than Australia, assuming Australia loses both their upcoming matches against Sri Lanka. However, if the series ends in a 2-2 draw, India's hopes will rest on Sri Lanka beating Australia 1-0 in their two-match series. If Australia wins their series against Sri Lanka, India's WTC hopes will be dashed.
In an interesting twist, Pakistan's performance could still aid India's chances if the series ends 2-2. If Pakistan defeats South Africa in their two-match series, India could still secure a spot in the WTC final.
Meanwhile, Australia can qualify for the WTC final even with a draw against Sri Lanka, keeping their position secure for the time being.
Pakistan will play their first Test against South Africa on December 26 in Centurion.
