How India and Australia's path to the WTC final is made more difficult by South Africa's victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test

Final scenarios for the World Test Championship: South Africa's victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test has increased the difficulty of India's chances.

There is increasing competition every day on the path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. It's time to start experimenting with different combinations after South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 233 runs at Kingsmead in Durban in the first Test. India and Australia's journey to Lord's Cricket Ground in 2025 has become increasingly difficult as a result of this Proteas victory, and both sides must perform well in the final four Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

This decisive 233-run victory against Sri Lanka in the opening Test of the two-match series has further increased South Africa's hopes of making it to the WTC final for the first time. With a points percentage of 59.25, the team is now ranked second in the WTC standings.

In a two-Test series, South Africa will next play Pakistan at home. If the Proteas win their final three Test matches, they will have a good chance of reaching the championship game.

Because of this defeat, Sri Lanka has now dropped from third place to fifth.

Returning to India's hopes of reaching the WTC final, Rohit Sharma and company cannot afford to make any more mistakes. To go to the WTC final without relying on other outcomes, the team must win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a score of 4-0 or 5-0.

India is now at the top of the rankings with a PCT of 61.11. Following a 295-run defeat to India in the Perth Test, Australia's PCT dropped below 60.

In order to go to the WTC final, Rohit Sharma and company would need to rely on other outcomes if India were to lose 4-0.

Australia's future is also at stake.
Pundits thought it would be a rematch of the 2023 WTC final between India and Australia prior to India's three-Test series loss to New Zealand. It is currently improbable, nevertheless, that this will finally occur.

In the event that India wins 4-0 or 5-0, Australia can effectively exit the WTC final. If Pat Cummins and company want to advance to the final, which will take place at Lord's, the home of cricket, in June 2025, they must alter the tide of the series.

Australia is now in third place in the WTC rankings as a result of Proteas' victory over Sri Lanka.

Next year, Australia will play Sri Lanka in a two-Test series following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Despite defeating India 3-0, New Zealand's prospects of reaching the WTC final also appear bleak. The Kiwis are facing England in the first Test match, and a loss could just knock them out.

Revised WTC rankings

India (PCT 61.11)

Pakistan (PCT 59.25)

China (PCT 57.69)

Australia (PCT 54.55)

Sri Lanka (50.00 PCT)

PCT 40.79 for England

India (PCT 33.33)

PCT 26.67 in the West Indies

Bangladesh (25.00 PCT)