ICC WTC 2021-23: India Qualify for World Test Championship Final as SL Lose Out

While the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 Test is deadlocked, India has already qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final. Sri Lanka’s two-wicket loss against New Zealand in Christchurch ensured that Rohit Sharma’s squad would not be deposed from second place in the points rankings.

With Australia having already booked their tickets to the English capital with a third-Test victory in Indore, India landed in Ahmedabad with two options for getting to The Oval: win the fourth Test or pray that Sri Lanka does not score a 2-0 clean sweep against the Kiwis away from home.

India have qualified for the World Test Championship final!

They'll take on Australia at The Oval for the #WTC23 mace!

More: https://t.co/75Ojgct97X pic.twitter.com/ghOOL4oVZB

— ICC (@ICC) March 13, 2023

The second requirement was met when Tim Southee’s team defeated the Lankans on Monday, March 13th. In terms of the rankings, the draw meant that India now has an unassailable advantage over their neighbours, who remain in second position.

Sri Lanka is presently fourth in the standings, with 64 points and a PCT of 48%. Even if they win the second match against the Blackcaps, Dimuth Karunaratne’s team’s PCT will only be 52%.

In instance, a tie in the Ahmedabad Test reduces India’s PCT to 59%, while a defeat reduces it to 57% – 5% higher than Sri Lanka’s maximum total.