India’s hope to qualify for the WTC finals has almost ended after the embarrassing loss against Australia in the fourth Test of the BGT 2024 series in Melbourne. They lost the match by a huge margin of 184 runs and are now in a must-win situation for the fifth Test in Sydney.
South Africa have already qualified for the WTC finals. Australia are the second favourites to qualify as they have to win only one match in the upcoming three Tests. However, India would want cricket gods to help them get the WTC final qualification three times in a row.
Here are the three possible scenarios for India to qualify for WTC 2025 final:
1. India win SCG Test, Sri Lanka draw series against Australia
India will have to win the fifth and final Test of the BGT 2024 series to keep their hopes alive to qualify for the WTC 2025 final. However, they will also need Sri Lanka to not let the Australia team win a single game in their two-match Test series starting on January 29.
2. India win SCG Test, Sri Lanka win 1-0 against Australia
After winning the Sydney Test, India will be dependent on the Sri Lanka vs Australia two-match Test series which will be hosted by the Island nation. Even a win for the host will help India to get the qualification for the WTC 2025 final but Sri Lanka will also have to make sure that the Australian side don’t win the second Test.
3. India win SCG Test, Sri Lanka win 2-0 against Australia
Sri Lanka winning the two-match home Test series against Australia 2-0 will confirm India’s qualification for the WTC 2025 final. Of course, the Men in Blue will have to win the Sydney Test. The scenario would have been a little easier for the Indian side if they hadn’t lost the fourth Test at MCG.
Disclaimer: This exclusive news is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and intuition. While reviewing this information, consider the points discussed and form your own conclusions.