• Home
  • Cricket Analysis
  • Can India Still Qualify For Wtc 2025 Finals After Whitewash Defeat Scenario Explained

Can India Still Qualify For WTC 2025 Finals After Whitewash Defeat? Scenario Explained

Team India gets whitewashed by New Zealand at home in 3-game Test series [Source: PTI]Team India gets whitewashed by New Zealand at home in 3-game Test series [Source: PTI]

India lost their third and final home Test against New Zealand by 25 runs to face a whitewash at home for the first time in the format’s history and now the road to qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 finals has become much more challenging. Let’s take a detailed look at the qualification scenario.

Team India were brutally hammered by New Zealand in the three-game Test series at home. After triumphing in the Bengaluru and Pune Tests, the Kiwis whitewashed the hosts in Mumbai to script history. This is India’s first whitewash defeat at home in a three-game Test series.

Notably, India only has themselves to blame. A 147-run target was achievable but the top order committed unwarranted blunders to lose 5 wickets in just 8 overs. Rishabh Pant’s lone warrior effort was not good enough as the team fell short of 25 runs to face humiliation.

India WTC finals in jeopardy after whitewash defeat

That being said, with three back-to-back losses, India have dropped down second spot with 58.33 PCT% in the World Test Championship (WTC) table. Defending champions Australia hold the top spot with 62.50 PCT%, followed by Sri Lanka at third (55.56 PCT%) and New Zealand at fourth (54.54 PCT%).

As far as India’s qualification scenario for the finals is concerned, the margin of errors has diminished. Rohit Sharma and co must win 4 of the remaining 5 Test games to qualify for the finals. India are set to tour Australia for a 5-game Border Gavaskar Series which is a different challenge altogether.

India previously featured in both the WTC finals in 2021 and 2023. However, a third straight triumph appears extremely challenging given the team’s present form.

Rohit Sharma likely to be unavailable for the Perth Test

Following the series whitewash against New Zealand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma took full responsibility of the loss and admitted the moment being a low point of his career. As for the upcoming Australia tour, Rohit is unsure of his availability for the Perth Test. Due to some personal reasons, the skipper needs to stay back with his family in India, which will impact his BGT tour.