IND vs NZ: Can Team India Seal WTC Final Berth With 3-0 White-Wash of New Zealand?

India will face New Zealand in a three-match Test series, starting with the first Test in Bengaluru from Wednesday (October 16). The three Tests will be part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.

Team India first host the Kiwis at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for the 1st Test from October 16 before the action shifts to Pune and Mumbai over the course of the next few weeks for the remaining two Tests.

Before they travel Down Under in November to face 2023 World Test Champions Australia in five matches in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the home series against New Zealand serves as a perfect opportunity for Rohit Sharma & Co to confirm their berth in third successive WTC Final.

Can India Seal WTC Final Berth With 3-0 White-Wash of New Zealand?

The white-wash of Bangladesh saw pace-setters India's lead at the top of the WTC Standing extend to a win percentage of 74.24, leaving the Men in Blue in need of just three wins from their remaining 8 matches to all but seal a WTC Final berth.

So, a three-nil white wash against New Zealand will see India extend their lead even further to 79.76 percentage of points if there are no deductions due to slow over rates. This will seal India's spot in the third consecutive WTC Final.

With a 3-0 white-wash India also will end 2021 World Test Champions New Zealand's chances of qualifying for another final. The Indian team can also travel Down Under without any pressure and also look to spoil Australia's chances.

Australia are in second position with a 62.50 percentage of points won. The Aussies will need to win four of their remaining 7 matches to keep their WTC title defence hopes alive. India will be their opponents in five of the seven matches.

Plus, also standing in the way of a India vs Australia rematch from the 2023 final in 2025, will be Sri Lanka, who sit in third with win percentage of 55.56. The Island nation still has four Tests in the WTC Cycle.

Sri Lanka host Australia in two Tests at the start of 2025, but before that they travel to South Africa to face the Proteas in two Tests. Defeats in South Africa, will all but rule out Sri Lanka of reaching the final even before they face Australia.

However, if India beat Australia for the third time in their own backyard, the race could be tighter for second place. But, India will first aim to do a white-wash of New Zealand at home to head to Australia without any pressure.