The Shubman Gill-led side is currently languishing at fifth place in the standings
India face an uphill battle to qualify for the 2027 World Test Championship final after slipping to fifth in the standings, with their points percentage below 50. The two-time finalists now have little margin for error, beginning with a crucial two-Test series against Sri Lanka
New Delhi: India face an uphill battle to qualify for the 2027 World Test Championship final after slipping to fifth in the standings, with their points percentage dropping below 50 following a 0-2 home series defeat to defending champions South Africa.
The two-time finalists have won four of their nine Tests in the current cycle and will need a strong finish to break into the top two. India begin that push with a crucial two-Test series against Sri Lanka, followed by a two-Test tour of New Zealand.
The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at home could prove decisive to their qualification hopes, with the table-toppers currently boasting an 87.50 points percentage.
India, who also drew their high-profile series against England, have nine Tests remaining in the cycle. A minimum of six wins and two draws from those matches could still keep them in contention for a place in the final, scheduled at The Oval in London from June 9 to 13, 2027.
1. AUSTRALIA
Played: 7
Wins: 8
Points %: 87.50
Leading run-scorer: Travis Head (853 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Mitchell Starc (46 wickets)
Series remaining:
Bangladesh (2 Tests), South Africa (3 Tests), New Zealand (4 Tests),
India (5 Tests)
2. SOUTH AFRICA
Played: 3
Wins: 4
Points %: 75.00
Leading run-scorer: Tony de Zorzi (278 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Simon Harmer
(30 wickets)
Series remaining: Australia (3 Tests), Bangladesh (2 Tests), England (3 Tests), Sri Lanka (2 Tests)
3. NEW ZEALAND
Played: 6
Wins: 4
Points %: 72.22
Leading run-scorer: Devon Conway (676 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Jacob Duffy (23 wickets)
Series remaining: India (2 Tests), Sri Lanka (2 Tests), Australia (4 Tests), Pakistan (2 Tests)
4. BANGLADESH
Played: 4
Wins: 2
Points %: 58.33
Leading run-scorer:
Najmul Hossain Shanto
(532 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Taijul Islam (22 wickets)
Series remaining: West Indies (2 Tests), England (2 Tests), South Africa (2 Tests), Australia (2 Tests)
5. INDIA
Played: 9
Wins: 4
Points %: 48.15
Leading run-scorer: Shubman Gill (950 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Mohammed Siraj
(39 wickets)
Series remaining:
Australia (5 Tests),
Sri Lanka (2 Tests),
New Zealand (2 Tests)
6. SRI LANKA
Played: 4
Wins: 1
Points %: 41.67
Leading run-scorer:
Pathum Nissanka (374 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Asitha Fernando (15 wickets)
Series remaining: India (2 Tests), South Africa (2 Tests), Pakistan (2 Tests), New Zealand (2 Tests)
7. ENGLAND
Played: 13
Wins: 4
Points Percentage: 24.36
Leading run-scorer: Joe Root (1108 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Josh Tongue (45 wickets)
Series remaining: Pakistan (3 Tests), South Africa (3 Tests), Bangladesh (2 Tests)
8. PAKISTAN
Played: 6
Wins: 2
Points %: 22.22
Leading run-scorer: Babar Azam (439 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Mohammad Abbas, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan (18 wickets each)
Series remaining:
Sri Lanka (2 Tests),
New Zealand (2 Tests),
England (3 Tests)
9. WEST INDIES
Played: 12
Wins: 2
Points %: 20.83
Leading run-scorer: Shai Hope (792 runs)
Leading wicket-taker: Shamar Joseph
(35 wickets)
Series remaining:
Bangladesh (2 Tests)
