After having conceded the Test series at home to New Zealand and a third successive WTC final on the line, India started a do-or-die Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign on a positive note by registering a dominant victory against Australia at Perth on Monday.
India arrived Down Under hoping to achieve the Herculean task of beating Australia 4-0 to ensure their spot at the World Test Championship final. Team India would now like to believe that things could only get better with the return of captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Shubman Gill.
So how has the outcome of the Perth Test changed the WTC Final scenario? Here is a breakdown.
As mentioned above India need to finish the five-Test BGT series 4-0 to ensure a direct entry to the WTC Final that is scheduled to be held at Lord's in June 2025. A 4-0 win against the Kangaroos in the ongoing series would take India's percentage point above 65 percent -- the safe zone.
| Pos | Team | Match | Wins | Loss | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1 | India | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 110 | 61.1 |
| 2 | Australia | 13 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 98 | 57.69 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 55.56 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 72 | 54.55 |
| 5 | South Africa | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 54.17 |
| 6 | England | 19 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 93 | 40.79 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 33.33 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 27.50 |
| 9 | West Indies | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 18.52 |
(Table via Sports Tak)
Victory at Perth's Optus Stadium has helped India to take their points tally to 110 and 61.1 percentage. The Kangaroos, who are the defending WTC champions, remain second with 90 points and a percentage of 57.69.
Pat Cummins's men need at least four wins from their remaining seven matches to confirm their automatic entry into the final. Thus, they would look to make the qualification at India's expense by winning as many Tests in the ongoing series at home. However, with Jasprit Bumrah's team winning the first Test is a warning for the Aussies. They would love to win the remaining four Tests and ensure their presence at the Lord's for another summit clash but it is going to be tougher than they expected!
What made things complicated for India and Australia is the fact that the ongoing WTC season is not a two-horse or three-horse race. With a little blessing from Lady Luck, any of the top five could still make it to the final. The fate of these teams is not entirely in their hands as the outcome of other fixtures is likely to become instrumental for their future.
For example, third-placed Sri Lanka have four matches left and can reach the WTC final if they manage three wins. The Islanders have 60 points and a percentage of 55.56.
New Zealand, who won the inaugural World Test Championship beating India, are up against England next. To make it to the final this season, they have to win all their remaining Test matches. The Kiwis remain fourth with 72 points and a percentage of 54.55.
The Proteas are the fifth and need to win their remaining four matches, including crucial home Tests to have any hope of making the final alive.