World Test Championship Final 2025: How India Can Qualify For WTC Final After Series Loss to New Zealand?

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Team India suffered a dent in their quest for a third successive World Test Championship (WTC) Final spot after a 0-3 home series drubbing at the hands of New Zealand, but the Men in Blue are still one of the favourites to book their tickets to London in 2025.

The third WTC Final is scheduled to be staged at the Home of Cricket - Lord's in London from June 11, 2025. The top two teams on the WTC points table at the end of the 2023-25 cycle will earn the chance to battle for the mace in June 2025.

Following the 0-3 series defeat to New Zealand, Team India dropped down to second in the WTC Standings before travelling Down Under to face the new leaders Australia in a five-match series, starting from November 22 in Perth.

India face a challenge in retaining top two spots. But Rohit Sharma's side are well in the race to be one of the two teams to head to London next year for the WTC title clash. The Men in Blue will hope third time is lucky, but before that they need to qualify for the final.

How can India qualify for WTC Final 2025?

Before the New Zealand series, India needed just four wins in eight Tests to seal the spot without relying on other results to progress to their third consecutive WTC Final. They were favourites to inflict a white-wash on New Zealand, but the Blackcaps turned the tables.

However, the equation does not change for India. They will still need to win four or five Tests in Australia to easily move into the WTC Final 2025. Even a 3-0 series win Down Under, will clinch India a spot, but that will depend on New Zealand's result against England.

If India finish the Australia series 3-0 or 3-1 or 4-1, Rohit's side will go through to the final if England manages to draw at least one Test in New Zealand. If India finishes Australia tour 2-0, then they will need England to beat New Zealand in one of the Tests.

If the India vs Australia series ends 3-2 in favour of the Indian cricket team then the Men in Blue will want England to beat New Zealand in one Test, and also Sri Lanka to beat Australia in one Test to finish in the top two of WTC standings.

If the Border Gavaskar Trophy ends 2-1 or 1-0 in favour of India, or 1-1 series draw, then Team India will want New Zealand to win only one Test against England, and also Sri Lanka to draw with Australia in one of their Tests to stand a chance.

If India manages to level the series 2-2 vs Australia, Rohit & Co will want New Zealand to win only one Test, but Sri Lanka to beat Australia 2-0 in their home series, to progress to the WTC Final.

Even a 2-3 series loss against Australia also could see India head to Lord's. But then the Men in Blue will rely on some impossible results. They will want New Zealand to still win only one Test against England, and also South Africa and Sri Lanka to lose 2 of their 4 Tests.

The Indian cricket team can reach the WTC Final even if they lose the series by a margin of 1-3, 1-2, 0-1 and a 1-1 draw. If that's the scenario, then India will want England to win the series vs New Zealand, Pakistan to white-wash South Africa 2-0, Australia to white-wash Sri Lanka 2-0, and finally SA and SL to share the series 1-1.

If India suffer a 0-3, 0-2 or 1-4 series defeat to Australia, then the equation will be for England to beat New Zealand 2-0 or 3-0, Pakistan to beat South Africa 2-0, Australia to beat Sri Lanka 2-0, and Sri Lanka vs South Africa to end 1-1.

If India suffers a 0-4 or 0-5 loss in Border Gavaskar Trophy, then Team India will not qualify even if the other contenders like Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand lose one of their other matches.