India qualify for the World Test Championship Final

After 20 long years, India and Australia will face off in the ICC men’s cricket final.

After New Zealand’s thrilling win over Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Sunday, India has secured their place in the World Test Championship 2021-23 final, where they will face Australia from June 7 at The Oval in London. 

The result means that India has become back-to-back WTC finalists, having reached the summit clash of the previous cycle, but lost to New Zealand. By the time India played the final Test of the process – against Australia in Ahmedabad – it was a two-horse race between them and Sri Lanka for the vacant spot in the big game. 

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Regarding the qualification scenario, Sri Lanka faced a challenge: they did not simply have to win their Tests in New Zealand and India to lose or draw in Ahmedabad. After solidly starting and dominating the first two days in Christchurch, the team suffered a devastating defeat by a rain-affected Day 5 and a last-ball failure.

In 2023, India set its sights on reaching the World Test Championship final. As a result of their victories over Australia in Nagpur and Delhi, where the visitors could not contend with spin, they took significant steps towards their goal. However, in the absence of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith’s Australia fought back in Indore and punished India for their incompetence at the batting crease.

Likewise, Sri Lanka began the fourth Test on shaky terms as Australia amassed an impressive first innings score, keeping them in the hunt. Only until rain shortened the final day in Christchurch that New Zealand chased down their target on the last ball, thus paving the way for India’s qualification.