World Test Championship (WTC) Points Table Update: Team India slips to second spot, Pakistan need it to stay on top

Rohit Sharma’s team India, which has played in the first two World Test Championship (WTC) finals – losing to both New Zealand and Australia – has slipped to second place in the current table in the new 2023-25 ​​cycle after their second Test against the West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad ended in a draw due to rain on the final day. Although India won the series 1–0, the draw meant they would get only 16 points from the two-match series instead of a potential 24 points from two wins.

Arch-rivals Pakistan now have a chance to consolidate their lead at the top after whitewashing Sri Lanka 2-0 in the ongoing second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Babar Azam’s men won the first Test in Galle by four wickets and are on course to win the second Test after bowling Sri Lanka out for just 166 on day one after losing the toss. Pakistan are 145 for 2 at stumps on the first day on Monday, just 21 runs behind the hosts.

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WTC 2023-25 ​​Points Table.

Due to the draw against West Indies, India slipped to number two. pic.twitter.com/LbEGL61jMc– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 24 July 2023

India secured their fifth consecutive series win in the Caribbean. They haven’t lost a single Test to the West Indies in 21 years.

West Indies were 76-2 in the second innings and trailed India by 289 runs. The conditions were in India’s favor, who were very keen for play to begin. On Sunday, India wrapped up West Indies’ first innings by taking five wickets for 26 runs in the first eight overs.

Play was due to start earlier on Monday to make up for the previous rain delay, but another heavy downpour forced the umpires to call it off in the afternoon after nearly five hours of inactivity, despite showers interrupting and the cover being removed. India scored 438 with the help of Virat Kohli’s 121 and 181-2 and West Indies scored 255 with pacer Mohammad Siraj’s career-best 5-60.

Reigning WTC champions Australia are third in the points table with 26 points after two wins, one loss and one match draw in the Ashes 2023 series against England. While England, who failed to win back the Ashes after a rain-hit draw in Manchester last week, are fourth with 14 points from four Tests so far.

India has now turned its attention to the three-match ODI series against the West Indies starting on Thursday. Team India will not play any Test match for the next five months this year and their next Test is to be against South Africa in the month of December.