The two-match test series between India and Bangladesh began on a winning note for the guests as the men in blue came out winners in the opening encounter at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. KL Rahul, under his captaincy, propelled the team to a 188-run victory, as India now enjoy a 1-0 lead in the series.
Their victory dethroned Sri Lanka to the fourth spot, whereas India became the third-ranked team on the World Test Championship 2021-23 (WTC 2023) points table. For further information, as soon after India's win over Bangladesh, the first test match of the ongoing series between Australia and South Africa saw the hosts coming on the top.
As a result of the loss for the Proteas, they have been pushed a placed down, and are now placed third. As a consequence, India have earned the second spot on the WTC 2023 points table, which has polished India's chances to qualify for the WTC 2023 final. However, some qualification scenarios are yet to adhere.
Let's glance at how India can qualify for the WTC 2023 final being in tough competition with Australia and South Africa.
What are India's chances of qualifying for WTC 2023 final?
India now need to defeat Bangladesh by 2-0 to remain in the race, which means winning the last test of the ongoing series holds keen importance for them. As mentioned above, they are already ruling the series by 1-0. It is pertinent to mention here that they won the match without the inclusion of their key players, hence, have an edge in the second one too.
Their next assignment will be encountering Australia, which holds equal importance for the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team. India will embrace Pat Cummins and Co. for a four-match series next year, which will be the last Test series for the men in blue in the ongoing WTC 2021-23 cycle. It shows that they can not afford a loss moving forward and need to win the series either by 4-0 or 3-0 to be in WTC 2023 race.
Australia, winning the first test against the visitors South Africa, will be flying high when the two sides meet during the forthcoming clash, scheduled for the Boxing Day Test. In order to qualify WTC 2023 final, the men in blue would hope for South Africa to lose the remaining matches as well.
If it happens as per India's will, they can have the upper hand over Proteas. And, if India overpower Australia in the home series next year, they will achieve the qualification mark of 64.35%, which will likely place them in the event's final.
