Team India needs a mini-miracle to qualify for the World Test Championships final

At the end of the five-match Test series between India and England, the Indian team find themselves in the fourth position in the ICC Test Championships 2021-23 points table. 

With six wins, four losses and two draws in four series, India have 75 points, including a penalty of five points.

For Team India to qualify for the World Test Championships 2021-23 final, they will have to win all of their remaining Tests whilst also hoping that the other teams lose a few of their games. India will need Australia, South Africa and Pakistan to lose a few of their matches to stand a chance of qualifying, even after winning their remaining games.

Currently, Australia are right at the top of the WTC points table. They have won six of their nine matches and drawn three. South Africa, placed second, have won five and lost two games. Third-placed Pakistan have 44 points after winning three of their seven games and drawing two.

India will be playing two more Test series, which are part of the WTC cycle, at home. The team will play two Tests against Bangladesh later this year and four Tests against Australia early next year. The Rohit Sharma-led side will have to win all of their remaining six games to improve their percentage points.

Earlier, India were docked two points by the ICC for slow over-rate during their seven-wicket defeat against England in the fifth Test. India have also been fined 40 per cent of the match fee for the offence after falling short by two overs after time allowances were taken into consideration. 

India captain Jasprit Bumrah pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction.

After setting the hosts a target of 378 in the fourth innings, India could not defend it as Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten centuries and an unbeaten 269-run stand for the fourth wicket took England over the line.