Another Test match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, and another three-day finish. But there was a major twist in the result. Australia, down and written off completely, bounced back in emphatic fashion in the third Test match at Indore’s Holkar Stadium to script a nine-wicket win. Australia needed 76 runs, in the final innings, to win the match and Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head wrapped up the chase in just over an hour on Friday morning. With the win, Australia booked their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. But where does that leave India in the WTC points table?
The win secured Australia’s place in the WTC final with a PCT of 68.52. They have so far won 11 of their 18 Test matches in this cycle with one more match remaining. India, who looked well set to secure their place in the final, will now have to wait for the result in the fourth Test to know their fate. They continue to stand second, with a PCT of 60.29.
India’s chance to qualify in the WTC final now hangs in balance. If Australia manage to level the series to 2-2 in the fourth Test and Sri Lanka beat New Zealand 2-0 in the impending series, India will finish outside the top two. Hence for India to secure a place in the final, they need to beat Australia in the last match, which will begin from March 9 onwards in Ahmedabad.
