NEW DELHI: A timid surrender from the Indian team led to Australia’s massive 10-wicket win in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide on Sunday.
On a high from the victory in the series opener in Perth, Team India hit a nadir in the day-night battle against the Aussies as the game was done and dusted inside seven sessions — just over two days.
With the mauling India received against a dominant Australia, the visitors’ chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final took a serious hit.
Sitting at the top of the WTC table before the Adelaide Test, the defeat for India meant that they slipped to the third spot.
The heavy defeat in Adelaide means India’s percentage points slipped from 61.11 to 57.29 as the third placed Australia swapped places with them, boosting their percentage points from 57.69 to 60.71.
South Africa sit at the second position with 59.26 percentage points after 5 wins in 9 Tests.
India’s WTC final qualification scenarios
After the loss in Adelaide, the Indian team now cannot afford another defeat in the remaining three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, if they are to outrightly qualify for the WTC final.
With the series level at 1-1, India now have to eye a series win with a 4-1 scoreline if they were to qualify for the WTC final without depending on other results.
If India register a 4-1 series win from here, Rohit Sharma and Co. can get to 146 points and 64.05 PCT, which currently top-placed Australia won’t be able to overhaul. But winning three Tests straight Down Under will be a massive challenge for the Indian side.
If India win series 3-1 – supposing they draw one and win two of their next three matches, they will finish at 138 points and a PCT of 60.52. In that case, Australia can only get to 57 PCT. But Australia then have 2 matches against Sri Lanka remaining to get back into the top two of the WTC table. In case of a 3-1 series win, India destiny won’t be entirely in their hands as it will keep the doors open for South Africa as well.
If India beat Australia 3-2 in series – the case where India win 2 of their next three matches and lose one more, they will finish with 134 points and a PCT of 58.77.
That will then keep South Africa in the hunt for the WTC final spot as they still have a Test against Sri Lanka and two more matches against Pakistan at home to pip India on percentage points.
In this case, India will need Sri Lanka’s assistance to make it to the WTC final as the Islanders will have to beat Australia in at least one, if not two, matches at home. The two Sri Lanka vs Australia Tests are scheduled in Galle.