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How can Rohit Sharma-led India qualify for 2023 WTC final after Pakistan knocked out following series defeat to England
Pakistan's loss to England in the thrilling second Test in Multan has ended any chances Babar Azam's side had to qualify for the 2023 World Test Championship final.
Pakistan's faint chances of making it to the final of the 2023 World Test Championship officially came to an end with their loss to England in the second Test in Multan. Babar Azam's side have thus lost the three-match Test series 2-0, having lost the first Test in Rawalpindi by 74 runs. The two sides will now play the third Test in Karachi starting on December 17, three days after India's first Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram begins.
This will be the first time India will play a Test since their seven-wicket loss to England in the postponed fifth Test between the two sides at Edgbaston in July. India are currently placed fourth on the WTC table with a win percentage of 52.08%. Pakistan, on the other hand, are sixth with 42.42%. The teams ahead of India are Sri Lanka (53.33%) in third, South Africa (60%) in second and Australia (75%) in first, with the top two qualifying for the final.
They have just six more matches left to play in the current cycle - two away from home to Bangladesh in the upcoming series, and four at home against Australia in February and March next year. Incidentally, Australia are set to face South Africa in three Test matches at home. While they easily saw away with the threat that the West Indies posed at home, South Africa have a far better recent record in Tests played in Australia and would prove to be a different challenge. There is hence a good chance of either of the top two teams suffering defeats before one of them face India at their home. India remain one of the most difficult teams to face at their home and would be confident of winning the series against Australia.
The ideal scenario for Rohit Sharma's men would be winning all their remaining matches, which is possible considering India's overwhelmingly good record against Bangladesh and their strength at home against any team around the world. If they win all of the rest of their Tests, their win percentage will jump up to 68.06, which gives them a good chance at reaching the top two considering either South Africa or Australia - or both sides - are expected to take a hit in the coming weeks.
However, just one loss in any of the upcoming matches will put India on the brink of elimination. Meanwhile, third-placed Sri Lanka face the daunting task of facing reigning champions New Zealand at home in a two-Test series next. These are their only remaining matches in the current cycle. They can get to a maximum of 61.9% if they manage to beat New Zealand 2-0 which means that their chances of making it to the final are slim.
