India’s journey in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has been filled with ups and downs. After eight matches, the team has put itself in a tough position, but qualification for the WTC Final is still possible, if they perform almost perfectly from this point onwards.
Here is a clear and simple breakdown of where India stands and what exactly they need to do to reach the final.
India’s Current WTC Position
- India has played 8 matches so far in the 2025-27 WTC cycle.
- Their record: 4 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw.
- Their Points Percentage (PCT) is approximately 54.17%.
- This puts India currently in 4th place on the WTC table.
The PCT matters more than the total points, because WTC rankings are based on the percentage of points won out of the total possible points.
How Many Matches Are Left?
India still has 10 Test matches remaining in the cycle. These matches are:
- 1 Test vs South Africa (home)
- 2 Tests in Sri Lanka (away)
- 2 Tests in New Zealand (away)
- 5 Tests vs Australia (home)
Minimum Requirement: India Must Win 8 Out of the 10 Remaining Matches
India will need to win at least 8 of their remaining 10 Tests to stay in the race for a place in the World Test Championship final.
Here’s why:
Winning 8 or more matches will raise India’s PCT to a level that has historically been enough to finish in the top two, which is required to make the final. In previous WTC cycles, teams reaching the final usually had a PCT between 64% and 68%.
India’s PCT is currently 54.17%, so they must win most of their remaining matches to climb into that zone.
Why 8 Wins Is the Magic Number
If India wins 8 out of 10 matches:
They will add a very large number of points to their tally. Their PCT will rise high enough to overtake at least two of the current top teams. They will give themselves a strong chance of finishing in the top two.
If India wins 7 or fewer, the PCT may not be enough unless other teams collapse badly, which is unlikely.
Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2026: List of all 20 teams that have qualified for the World Cup
Little or No Room for Error
1. India cannot afford more than one or two poor results from here.
2. Even draws can hurt India because they reduce the maximum PCT they can achieve.
3. Losses in away games (Sri Lanka, New Zealand) or home matches against Australia could severely damage their chances.
In short: India must treat every match as a knockout match from now on.
Why This Run Will Be Difficult
Out of the matches left, four will be played away in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, where the conditions can be difficult for India’s batters and bowlers. Even though the Australia series is at home, it will still be a tough battle. The second test against South Africa, which is also at home, will add pressure too, because India cannot afford to start with a setback as they have already lost the 1 match of the series.
But Qualification Is Still Possible
Even though the road is tough, the situation is not hopeless. India plays five Tests at home, where they are one of the strongest teams in the world. If they dominate the home series and win a couple of away matches, the qualification goal becomes realistic. India has a history of bouncing back strongly in WTC cycles.
Conclusion
To qualify for the World Test Championship Final: India needs to win at least 8 of their next 10 Test matches. Too many draws or more losses will almost certainly end their chances. Every match from here is extremely important.
India’s path is tough, but it is still in their control. With strong performances in the upcoming home and away series, the team can still make it to the WTC Final.
Written by Kinjal Walantra