WTC Final: How India finished third in a two-horse race

For the first time since the inception of the World Test Championship (WTC), India have failed to make it to the WTC Final. The Men in Blue had to win in Sydney to stay alive in the race but a six-wicket defeat has seen them crash out prematurely. Australia and South Africa will now play the coveted WTC Final at Lord’s from June 11.

In a way, this development comes as a shock considering the ridiculously strong position India found themselves in three months back. 

After the famous win over Bangladesh in Kanpur, India topped the WTC table with a PCT of 74.24%. They were miles ahead of second-placed Australia (62.50%) and were completely out of the sight of eventual-finalists South Africa, who stood at fifth spot with a PCT of 38.89%. India were supposed to walk to a third consecutive WTC Final.

Yet three months on, here we are. India have ended the cycle with a PCT of 50.00% and have somehow finished third in a two-horse race. 

Here’s the timeline of how India extraordinarily dropped out of the WTC race after being nailed-on favourites.

PCT after India’s 2-0 win over Bangladesh (October 1)

India - 74.24%

Australia - 62.50%

South Africa - 38.89%

PCT after New Zealand’s win in Bengaluru (Oct 20)

India - 68.06%

Australia - 62.50%

South Africa - 38.89%

PCT after South Africa’s win vs Bangladesh in Dhaka (Oct 25)

India - 68.06%

Australia - 62.50%

South Africa - 47.62%

PCT after New Zealand’s win against India in Pune (Oct 28)

India - 62.82%

Australia - 62.50%

South Africa - 47.62%

PCT after South Africa’s win vs Bangladesh in Chattogram (2-0 series sweep)

India - 62.82%

Australia - 62.50%

South Africa - 54.17%

PCT after New Zealand’s 3-0 clean sweep over India 

Australia - 62.50%

India - 58.33%

South Africa - 54.17%

PCT after India’s victory over Australia in Perth

India - 61.11%

Australia - 57.69%

South Africa - 54.17%

PCT after South Africa’s victory over Sri Lanka in Durban

India - 61.11%

South Africa - 59.26%

Australia - 57.69%

PCT after Australia’s win over India in Adelaide 

Australia - 60.71%

South Africa - 59.26%

India - 57.29%

PCT after South Africa’s clean sweep of Sri Lanka (2-0)

South Africa - 63.33%

Australia - 60.71%

India - 57.29%

PCT after India and Australia's draw at Gabba

South Africa - 63.33%

Australia - 58.89%

India - 55.88%

PCT after South Africa's win over Pakistan in Centurion

South Africa (Q) - 66.67%

Australia - 58.89%

India - 55.88%

PCT after Australia’s victory over India in Melbourne

South Africa (Q) - 66.67%

Australia - 61.45%

India - 52.77%

PCT after Australia’s 3-1 series win over India in Sydney

South Africa (Q) - 66.67%

Australia (Q) - 63.72%

India - 50.00%