The series loss against South Africa has put India at fifth place on the ICC WTC points table, with four wins from nine matches and a points percentage (PCT) of 48.15. On Wednesday, India got thrashed by South Africa in the 2nd Test by 408 runs and have now slipped below Pakistan in the World Test Championship Table to the fifth spot. Chasing 549 runs, India were bundled out for 201 runs as South African spinner Simon Harmer managed to pick up six wickets in the second innings.
The Indian Cricket Team have found themselves in a spot of bother in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27. They lost the two-match Test series against South Africa at home and this was their second whitewash at home in the last 12 months. After losing the first match against South Africa by a margin of 30 runs, they suffered another poor loss in the series. They lost the second match of the series by a massive margin of 488 runs, which was the biggest ever for them at home.
South Africa batted first and they posted a total of 489 runs on the back of Senuram Muthusamy’s 109 and 93 by Marco Jansen. When it was their turn to bat, they struggled big time as they got all out for just 201 as South Africa earned a massive lead of 288. Yashasvi Jaiswal hit 58.
In the second innings, South Africa declared their innings at 260 with 94 by Tristan Stubbs. Thanks to his innings, South Africa set a massive total of 549 for India to chase. It was expected that India would draw the game but that wasn’t the case. They had a horrible outing with the bat yet again. They started losing wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for just 140. Ravindra Jadeja fought hard for his fifty but that wasn’t enough as India lost the match by a massive margin of 408 runs.
The loss marks another embarrassing chapter in India’s Test history, as it was their biggest loss in terms of runs. It was South Africa’s first series win in India in 25 years. The tourists outplayed India in all three departments, with Aiden Markram (9) setting the record for most catches in a Test match, overtaking Ajinkya Rahane’s eight claimed in 2015. Sai Sudharsan’s excruciating 138-ball stay came to an end as Senuran Muthusamy had him caught by Markram soon after the second session began, as India failed to reach even 150.
Earlier in the first Test in Kolkata too THEY where thrashed chasing 124 runs; the hosts were bundled out for 93 runs. Last year in October they were whitewashed by New Zealand as result.
They had to beat Australia in Australia and could not reach the final of the previous WTC cycle as well after reaching the final in the first two iterations and losing in the final. With only 9 matches to go for India in the WTC cycle, it would be an uphill task for them to rise and qualify for the finals of WTC and Former Indian cricketer now commentator Aakash Chopra believed the same.
Aakash Chopra reckons that India’s chances of making it to the ICC WTC 2025-27 Finals is slim
Former opening batter Aakash Chopra reckons that India’s chances of qualifying for the final of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle are very slim. He went to the extent of stating that it will be a miracle if they qualify.
India suffered a 2-0 drubbing against South Africa in a two-match home Test series, which ended at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, November 26. After losing the first Test in Kolkata by 30 runs, they went down to the Proteas by 408 runs in the second Test in Guwahati – their biggest-ever defeat by margin of runs in the format.
Looking at the WTC 2025-27 points table following the conclusion of the Guwahati Test, India are in fifth position with 52 points and 48.15 percentage points. In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra reflected on India’s chances of reaching the WTC final following their 2-0 defeat at home to South Africa. He commented:
“We are number five in the WTC table. I don’t think we will be able to qualify. If we qualify, it will be a miracle. We are going to face Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and New Zealand in New Zealand and then five matches against Australia at home. Achieving 100 percent points against Australia is next to impossible. We have less than 50 percent points, which is not a good thing.”
India’s next assignment in the ongoing WTC cycle will be a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka in August 2026. Then, they will tour New Zealand for two Tests in October-November 2026. India will conclude their WTC fixtures with a five-match home series against Australia in January-February 2027.
If we take a glance at the 2025-27 WTC table after the India vs South Africa Guwahati Test, Australia are occupying the top spot. They have 100 percentage points, with four wins from four games. Defending champions South Africa are in second place, with 75 percentage points (three wins and one loss).
Sri Lanka currently find themselves in third position, with 66.67 percentage points. They have played two matches, winning one and drawing the other. Pakistan are above India, having accumulated 50 percentage points (one win and one loss). India are followed by England (36.11), Bangladesh (16.67) and West Indies (0) in the points table, while New Zealand are yet to play a Test in the ongoing cycle.
How can India qualify for the ICC WTC 2025-27 Final after a 2-0 defeat against South Africa at home
The series loss against South Africa has put India at fifth place on the ICC WTC points table, with four wins from nine matches and a points percentage (PCT) of 48.15. But they are still very much in the race to qualify for the final.India have nine more matches left in the ICC WTC 2025-27 – two against Sri Lanka in August 2026, two against New Zealand in October and November 2026 and five at home against Australia in January and February 2027.
If India win all these games, they will have a PCT of 74.07, which will be enough for them to qualify for the ICC WTC 2025-27 final. But things won’t be easy for them as all the remaining three series will be very challenging. To qualify for the ICC WTC final, a team needs a PCT above 60. In this scenario, India needs to win at least seven of the nine remaining matches, taking PCT to 62.96. If they win six, two draws, and one loss would take the PCT to 61.11 which would be indeed an miracle if they acheive it.