India, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa - All are in contention for a WTC Final
Team India during the series against England in 2016
We are just five months away from the illustrious final of the World Test Championship 2021-23, and we still don't know who the two finalists are going to be.
Will it be an India vs Australia in an ICC event after 20 years? Would South Africa or Sri Lanka knock the Put Cummins-led unit out of contention? Only the results of the upcoming three-Test series will tell.
India have invited Australia for the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February-March, where both teams will not only be playing a four-match series but will be fighting each other for a spot in the WTC Final.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will also be touring New Zealand in March this year, for two Test matches. The conditions Down Under won't be easy for the Islanders, however; they will be rewarded highly if they win both the matches.
A whitewash in New Zealand will help the Dimuth Karunaratne and company bag a place in the WTC Final. Odds are against them, but we have seen how they respond when their backs are against the walls.
South Africa were heavily hampered when they faced Australia in Australia, last month. Despite losing the series 2-nil, they still have a mild chance of getting to England for the illustrious final.
For the Proteas to go to the Final, they need to win both their games against West Indies and Sri Lanka to get only one win against New Zealand, plus India to get fewer points than 21 from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite winning 2-0 against the Proteas, there still exists a probability of Australia missing the final. If they lose 0-4 against India and Sri Lanka wins both the Tests, they won’t qualify for the WTC Final.
The least Australia need is a draw match against India, and that will take them through without depending on any other team. However, the Rohit Sharma-led team will just be needing three wins against Australia next month would be enough for India to go into the final.
A result 2-2 will also help India to get to the final, barring Sri Lanka make it 2-nil against New Zealand.
Read More: Cummins gets warned before upcoming 'acid' test against India and England
 "Arjun Bhalla")
