WTC 2025: With 10 Test games still in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, several teams remain in competition to secure a place in the top two. However, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo, no team is guaranteed a spot yet.
With the finalists from the previous cycle, Australia and India, currently in the 3rd and 2nd positions, respectively. They still have 3 head-to-head Tests left to play and things can change for both the teams anytime.
South Africa is currently on top of the table with a percentage of 63.33. They have two home matches left against Pakistan. After their 2-0 win over Sri Lanka, they are in a good position. To reach the final, they only need to win one of their upcoming Tests against Pakistan. If the series ends in a 1-1 draw, their percentage will drop to 61.11, but only India or Australia will be able to surpass them.
Qualification Scenarios for All Teams in WTC 2023-25
Currently, the top-ranked teams, India and Australia, need to maintain 58% of the available points to stay in a strong position. Other teams will need to earn 60% of the points to surpass either India or Australia. With many matches ahead, let’s take a closer look at the qualification chances of all nine teams in the standings.
India:
India, with a current percentage of 57.29%, needs 2 wins and a draw from 3 remaining Tests against Australia to secure a place in the final. A 3-2 series win would leave them at 58.77%, while a 2-3 loss would drop them to 53.51%, requiring other teams’ results to stay in contention.
India’s remaining series/games
- India vs Australia – 3 Matches (A)
Wins required from 3 matches: 3 wins (2 wins and 1 draw atleast)
Chance of Qualification – 30%
Australia:
Australia, with a current percentage of 60.71%, needs two wins from their three Tests against India to secure a place in the final. If they win 3-2, they’ll finish at 55.26%, higher than India and Sri Lanka, but a 2-3 loss would require them to win both Tests in Sri Lanka or hope South Africa doesn’t perform well against Pakistan.
Australia’s remaining series/games
- Australia vs India – 3 matches (H)
- Australia vs Sri Lanka – 2 Matches (A)
Wins required from 5 matches: 3
Chance of Qualification – 65%
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka has played ten games in the WTC 2023-25 cycle, winning five and losing five. After losing 1-2 to England, they won their home series against New Zealand 2-0.
Sri Lanka lost to South Africa in the first Test at Kingsmead and now has three games left. They must win all three remaining matches to have a chance at the final.
Sri Lanka remaining series/games
- Sri Lanka vs Australia – 2 Matches (H)
Wins required from 2 matches: 2 (and depend on other teams)
Chances of Qualification – 20%
England:
England has played 20 WTC games, winning 10 and losing 9. Although they can’t qualify, they ended New Zealand’s hopes with an 8-wicket win. Currently, they lead 2-0 in their series in New Zealand, but their chances of qualifying are zero.
England’s remaining series/games
- England vs New Zealand – 1 Matches (A)
Wins required from 1 matches: N/A
Chances of Qualification – 0%
South Africa:
South Africa started strong by beating India but then lost three games. They bounced back with wins over the West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
With 5 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses from 9 matches, they’re second in the standings and have a good chance to qualify, with 3 Tests remaining at home.
South Africa remaining series/games
- South Africa vs Pakistan – 2 Matches (H)
Wins required from 2 matches: 1
Chances of Qualification – 90%
New Zealand:
The Black Caps have won six and lost six games in the competition, with one game remaining. Despite having a chance to qualify during their home series, they lost to England in both Christchurch and Wellington, ending their hopes for the WTC final.
New Zealand’s remaining series/games
- New Zealand vs England – 1 Matches (H)
Wins required from 1 matches: N/A
Chance of Qualification – 0%
Pakistan:
Pakistan, currently in seventh place, has played nine WTC matches, winning four and losing six. Recent losses, including a 3-0 defeat to Australia, a 2-0 loss to Bangladesh at home, and a setback in the Multan Test, have hurt their chances.
Although they had big wins (152-run and 9-wicket) against England in the second and third Tests, it hasn’t improved their chances much. Next, they have a tough away series against South Africa, making qualifying for the WTC 2025 final look difficult.
Pakistan’s remaining series/games
- Pakistan vs South Africa – 2 Matches (A)
- Pakistan vs West Indies – 2 Matches (H)
Wins required from 4 matches: N/A
Chances of Qualification – 0%
Bangladesh:
Bangladesh, now ranked eighth after a 2-0 win over Pakistan, still has slim chances of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final. They previously lost 0-2 to Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa. With only four matches left, they need to win all of them, making qualification mathematically impossible.
Chances of Qualification – 0%
West Indies
West Indies are at the bottom of the WTC table with just two wins in 11 games. A recent 3-0 loss to England has eliminated their chances of qualifying for the final. Even if they win their remaining two matches, they will still be far from qualifying.
West Indies remaining series/games
- West Indies vs Pakistan – 2 Matches (A)
Wins required from 2 matches: N/A
Chances of Qualification – 0%
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