If the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia ends in a draw or defeat, how might India advance to the World Test Championship Final?

In the current WTC final race, South Africa is leading, followed by Australia and India.

The majority of supporters of the Rohit Sharma-led team would have been terrified following Day 2 of the India vs. Australia 4th Test in Melbourne on Friday. But on Saturday's third day, No. 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy and No. 9 Washington Sundar stepped up to the plate and gave India a strong chance. With two days left, India has a chance to salvage the Test match, even if they are still 116 runs behind Australia. In light of the World Test Championship final qualification scenario, it will be fantastic.

South Africa leads the race to the WTC final at the moment, followed by Australia and India. India would automatically advance to the elite competition final if they win the series 3-1. However, India may still advance to the WTC final even if they lose or draw the fourth Test in Melbourne. In such scenario, the outcomes of the two test series between Sri Lanka and Australia and South Africa and Pakistan will be highly anticipated by Rohit Sharma's team.

The complete scenarios for India's qualification are as follows:

In front of 83,073 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, Nitish Kumar Reddy became India's hero on the third day of the Boxing Day Test by smashing an incredible first Test century to spearhead the home team's drive. As he partnered with fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar, who scored a patient fifty and was the ideal second foil, Reddy, who was playing in only his fourth Test match, showed wisdom in his strokeplay, both on the front and back foot, and was strong in defense, patience, application, and poise.

When India was 221/7 in the opening session, the pair joined forces and stitched a vital 127-run stand for the eighth wicket. With India trailing by 116 runs at the end of day three at 358/9 in 116 overs, the pitch flattening out also assisted the pair in holding off Australia.

Through a lofted on-drive off Scott Boland, Reddy brought up an emotional century in 171 deliveries while his father Mutyala, who was constantly praying to God, and his uncle and other family members watched with great anticipation from the front seats of the grandstand.

After placing his helmet on the handle of his bat (a reference to the Baahubali film), Reddy dropped to his knees and lifted his arm upward to look up to the heavens as soon as the hundred was confirmed. He then soaked up the moment of hitting his first Test century in front of his family, with his father crying and expressing gratitude to God with folded hands towards the skies at a famous location.

Reddy also came out to bat at number eight or lower, making him the first Indian batsman to smash a Test century in Australia. The right-handed batsman held his bat as both sides were forced to leave the field due to poor lighting and later rain nine balls after Reddy reached his century.