ICC World Test Championship points table: India loses top spot to Australia in WTC standings and drops to second place

India have lost their top spot in the World Test Championship standings, slipping to second place after an embarrassing home series loss to New Zealand on Sunday.

India lost to New Zealand by 25 runs in the third and final Test in Mumbai, coming back to win 0–3, their first in a home Test series since South Africa’s 2–0 win in 1999–2000. It was also the first time India lost a home series 0-3.

This was India’s fifth defeat in the ongoing WTC cycle, resulting in a significant drop in its point percentage (PCT), which fell from 62.82 to 58.33.

With this, India dropped to second place behind defending champions Australia, which regained the top spot with a PCT of 62.50.

India are now scheduled to fly Down Under to play the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which has now taken on even greater significance as both the teams will be vying for the top two spots.

India were considered favorites to win most of the remaining matches as they seek a third consecutive WTC finals appearance.

However, to reach the final regardless of external results, they now need to win four of their remaining five games, which is no easy task in Australia.

Australia, on the other hand, are in a better position as they need to win four of the remaining seven Tests.

New Zealand’s historic win in India also boosted their WTC hopes.

They have moved up to fourth place with a PCT of 54.55, while Sri Lanka is third with a PCT of 55.56.

South Africa, currently fifth with a PCT of 54.17, also remain in contention for a top-two spot and a place in next year’s one-off Test at Lord’s.

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