India Cement Top Spot in WTC Standings with Series Win over England
India tightened their grip on the top spot in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a convincing 4-1 series victory over England that concluded here on Saturday.
The dominant win ensures India will remain No. 1 in the WTC table regardless of the outcome of the ongoing Test match between New Zealand and Australia in Christchurch. This victory also propels them to the pinnacle of the ICC Test rankings, surpassing Australia. Currently, India holds the top spot in all three formats – Test, ODI, and T20I.
Dramatic Turnaround Propels India to the Top of WTC Standings
India’s path to the top wasn’t without its challenges. They started the series against England with a setback, losing the opening Test in Hyderabad.
However, a remarkable comeback saw them win the next four matches consecutively, culminating in an innings victory at Dharamsala. This win propelled them back to the No. 1 position in the WTC standings and boosted their points percentage to 68.51%.
The WTC points system awards 12 points for a win, six for a tie, four for a draw, and none for a loss. Rankings are determined by the percentage of points earned as teams play a varying number of matches throughout the cycle.
England, despite winning three Tests in this cycle, finds themselves in eighth place due to deductions for slow over-rate penalties. These penalties cost them 19 points, leaving them with a meager 17.5% after playing 10 Tests.
Current Standings and the Road Ahead
New Zealand (60%) and Australia (59.09%) currently occupy the second and third positions, respectively. A win for New Zealand in Christchurch will see them reach 66.67%, while Australia’s victory would put them ahead of New Zealand at 62.5%.
With only a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka series remaining before the Indian Premier League commences on March 22nd, India is well-positioned to retain the top spot for a significant period.
The top two teams at the conclusion of the WTC cycle will clash in the final scheduled for Lord’s in June 2025. India has a chance to redeem themselves after falling short in the previous two WTC finals, losing to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023.
