March 4, 2021 - India took the field against England in the fourth and final Test at the brand new Narendra Modi Stadium with a major mission on hand. Having taken a 2-1 lead in the 4-Test series, a win in the final match was required to topple Australia and qualify for the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC).

An England win would have drawn the series 2-2 and paved the way for a trans-Tasmanian final between New Zealand and Australia. However, an in-form India denied that chance and defeated England by an innings and 25 runs inside three days.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel picked four and three wickets respectively to bundle out Joe Root's side for 205 in the first innings. Riding on the back of Rishabh Pant's 101, India took a 160-run first innings lead. Washington Sundar fell four short of what could have been his maiden Test ton. Rohit Sharma chipped in with 49 runs.

Later in the match, Axar and Ashwin picked five wickets each to bundle out England for 135 runs only.

Two years later, India are on the cusp of their second consecutive WTC final. Interestingly, they need a win in the last match of another 4-match Test series which they are leading by a 2-1. In a mother of coincidence, the venue for the fourth Test is the same as well. India are again in the lap of Narendra Modi Stadium to qualify for the 2021-23 WTC final.

There is just one change and it's the opposition. India have to get past Steve Smith's Australia who have already qualified after beating India in the third Test in Indore by three wickets.

In case India lose the match, their fate will not be in their own hands. India would wish Sri Lanka to lose or play a draw in their upcoming two Test matches in New Zealand. A 2-0 cleansweep against New Zealand in New Zealand is the only way Sri Lanka can qualify but only if India lose the fourth Test in Ahmedabad against the number one ranked Test team Australia.

India versus Australia final Test starts from March 9. Sri Lanka face New Zealand in their first Test on the same date.