- Thursday, March 06, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
England did their cricketing reputation a world of favour inside a month after winning the T20 World Cup by beating Pakistan by 74 runs in the first Test in Rawalpindi that looked set for a dull draw. Ben Stokes’s side emerged victorious, thanks to a high-risk yet sporting declaration in the second innings and spirited bowling performance to back it.
But apart from clinching the first match of a historic Test series, the Three Lions also did India some favour in the ongoing 2021-23 World Test Championship points table. While Babar Azam’s side had a realistic chance of making the final of the second edition of the tournament, the Pindi defeat has now opened doors for India to make their second successive final.
Pakistan stay in the fifth position of the table and if Australia or India go on to win their forthcoming Test matches, Azam’s boys would not be able to book a spot in the summit clash which will be held at the Lord’s in June 2023.
If India beat Bangladesh 2-0 in their upcoming Test series and do not lose more than a match against Australia in the following series at home, they can finish among the top two sides in the current World Test Championship final.
If India beat Bangladesh 2-0 in the Test series and do not lose more than 1 Test against Australia in the following assignment at home, they can finish the current WTC cycle among the top two sides.
India are currently placed at No.4 and are preceded by Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
Reigning champions New Zealand, who beat India in the final of the 2019-21 cycle, are at the eighth position in the current cycle.
Azam could not hide his disappointment after losing the first Test in which both the teams scored more than 550 runs in the first innings. He admitted that his side was not up to the mark and couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity it had to win the match.
