After a promising start against New Zealand in the Pune Test, Team India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final appear to be in jeopardy due to their current precarious position in the ongoing match. Despite taking control in Pune after trailing the visitors for 259 on the first day, India faced a significant setback with a batting collapse on the second day and were bowled out for just 156 by Mitchell Santner, who took seven wickets.

Concerns are growing among fans about India’s ability to reach the WTC final for the third consecutive year. Despite currently leading the WTC points table, a defeat in Pune could have a significant impact on the standings and potentially benefit South Africa’s chances of securing last place. With upcoming series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, South Africa’s strong team is poised to overcome the challenges and make a strong push for the WTC title.

What does India need to do to reach the WTC final?

To qualify for the WTC 2023-2025 final, India must ensure they do not suffer any Test losses and achieve at least two draws. The five-Test series against Australia on Australian soil is expected to be a tough challenge for Team India, given the challenging conditions and the strength of the Australian team.

Michthell Santner took 7 wickets in the first innings

Mitchell Santner’s outstanding performance in the second Test in Pune saw him take a career-best 7 wickets for 53 runs, helping New Zealand take a commanding lead of 103 runs over India. The left-arm spinner’s five-wicket haul, powered by Glenn Phillips, played a crucial role in disrupting India’s batting order, restricting them to just 156 runs on a pitch that favored spin.

India’s collapse was nothing short of dramatic, with the team losing their last nine wickets after just one wicket on the opening day. Despite the resilience of Ravindra Jadeja, who made 38 runs, and the contributions of Shubman Gill and Yashaswi Jaiswal, who both made 30 runs, the team struggled to make a significant impact. Disappointingly, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck while Virat Kohli managed to score just 1 run.

Also read| ‘Dravid days are over, Sachin’: Batting fallacy exposed by Simon Doull after India’s Pune Test failure