India's repeated failures in Test cricket have left the team in a difficult and disappointing position. With Australia and South Africa delivering dominant performances, India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final now look extremely slim. While the team's main focus may currently be on the T20 format, Test cricket remains the true measure of success, and it is in this format that Shubman Gill's team is facing serious challenges.
India's Test struggles deepen
India failed to qualify for the WTC final in the 2023-25 cycle, and the impact of that setback is still being felt. Now, the possibility of reaching the final in the 2025-27 cycle is also fading. A series of defeats, inconsistent batting and bowling, and weak tactical decisions have raised serious concerns about the future of the Indian Test team.
India suffered a shocking 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand earlier, and the pressure has increased further after a 0-2 home loss to South Africa. These results have pushed the team into a tough situation, making qualification for the WTC final increasingly difficult.
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Qualification chances and remaining matches
So, what does India need to do to reach the WTC final? According to current qualification scenarios, the task is extremely challenging. In the ongoing WTC cycle, India has played nine matches, winning four and losing four. They performed reasonably well in England and secured two home victories against the West Indies. However, poor performances in spin-friendly home conditions have hurt their campaign.
Data-based projections suggest that India's chances of reaching the WTC final are only 4 per cent. To qualify, they would need to win eight of their remaining nine matches, which appears highly unlikely given their current form. India's win percentage stands at 48.15, which is even lower than Pakistan's.
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India's remaining Test matches:
India vs Sri Lanka (2 Tests, August)
India vs New Zealand (2 Tests, October)
India vs Australia (5 Tests, January 2027)
