India reaches first position in WTC points table after South Africa Test

Now the challenge of 5 tests against England, series in Australia is also important

After drawing the series against South Africa, the Indian cricket team has reached the first position in the WTC i.e. World Test Championship. From here the Indian team's mission WTC 2025 has gained momentum. After the tour of West Indies and South Africa, the team now has to play a 5-Test series against England at home. At the same time, the team also has to tour Australia in November-December. These two tours are important for India. Including these two series, India will play a total of 10 tests.

India won 2 out of 4 matches so far

The new cycle of the championship starts after the WTC final in June 2023. India have so far toured West Indies and South Africa in the 2023-25 cycle. India played 2-2 Tests in both the countries. India got one win and one match was drawn in West Indies. At the same time, in South Africa the team got 1 win and 1 loss.

You get 12 points for every win, position is decided by percentage

In WTC, every team has to play at least 6 series, but the number of matches in each team's series is not fixed. In some series there are only 2 test matches, while in some series there are 5 test matches. In such a situation, if the ranking were made on the basis of total points, then those teams which play more Test matches would have benefited more. To avoid this situation, ICC gives importance to percentage points for ranking and this is how the rank is decided.

India's next challenge against England

The England team will come to India to play a Test series after 3 years. This time there will be 5 matches in the series. The first Test will be played from 25 to 29 January, the second Test from 2 to 6 February, the third Test from 15 to 19 February, the fourth Test from 23 to 27 February and the fifth Test from 7 to 11 March.

India will face a challenge in terms of WTC against England. The matches will be competitive in the 5-match series. The last Test series between India and England took place in England during August 2021. The 5 test series was drawn 2-2. The last series between the two in India took place in February 2021, this 4-Test series was won by India 3-1.

At the same time, after India, England will next play 2 Test series against West Indies and 3 Test series against Sri Lanka.

Series against Australia is important

The Indian team will tour Australia in November. Winning this series will be important for the team, because it will be at the home of Australia in which there can be 5 Tests. Australia is the only team among the Cena (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries which has not been able to win a Test series against India in the last 10 years. The team's last win was in 2014 on its own home ground. Since then, India has defeated Australia in 4 series by a margin of 2-1. Of these, 2 were in India and only 2 were in Australia. In such a situation, the 5 Test series can be challenging for India as well as Australia in terms of WTC.

India played the finals of both seasons

The Indian team played the finals of both WTC seasons (2019-2021) and (2021-23). In the first season i.e. 2019-21 season, India was on the top of the table. Whereas, India was at second place in the 2021-23 season. First, India faced New Zealand in the final and then Australia in the second season. India lost in both the matches.

Usually, the Indian team plays 17-18 matches in every cycle

The Indian team plays 17 to 18 matches in one cycle of WTC. In the first season, India played 17 matches out of which it won 12, lost 4 and drew one. At the same time, in the second season, out of 18 matches, the team won 10 and lost 5, while 3 were drawn.

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