Team India’s qualification scenario for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final becomes much more complicated if the ongoing third test match at the Gabba in Brisbane gets washed out due to severe rains. If such happens, the five-match test series of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 gets levelled with 1-1. This poses a huge concern for India and Australia in their quest to secure the top two spots in the WTC 2023-25 points table.
Particularly, Day 1 and Day 3 of the Gabba Test were dominated by rain which increases the possibility of the game becoming drawn. Moreover, the weather forecast reports from various sources revealed that there is a 60% to 70% chance of rain occurring on Day 4 and Day 5.
According to the WTC points system, a winning team gets 12 points, while 6 points are awarded for a tie match. A no-result outcome occurs in a test match by getting washed out, and in such conditions, both teams will get 4 points termed as a draw outcome.
Australia currently ranks at the second position in the points table with 102 points and 60.71 PCT after securing a 10-wicket victory in the pink-ball test in Adelaide. But, the loss mattered a lot to India as they slipped to the third spot with 110 points and 57.29 PCT.
Let’s dive deeper to know how the rain has played a spoilsport in the Gabba test for the first three days and India’s rankings in the WTC points table that alter their qualification scenario if the game gets washed out.
Gabba Test Opens on a Frustrating Mode: Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 Highlights
On Day 1, just 13.2 overs were being bowled as the match was called off due to heavy rains resulting in Australia’s total of 28-0 at the stumps.
However, there weren’t any interruptions on Day 2. But, the Indian bowlers were thrashed severely by the centuries of Travis Head and Steve Smith as well as Alex Carey’s fifty that propelled Australia’s score to 405-7 at stumps.
Once again, severe rain showers on Day 3 became the talking point of the town as Australia’s first innings total was wrapped to 445 in 117.1 overs. In response, India struggled with a shaky start that left KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma clueless at 51-4 in 17 overs, before the match was officially called off following the sixth interruption in a day. Moreover, the Indians were still trailing behind by a huge margin of 394 runs.
Although India’s innings resumed on Day 4, there have been multiple interruptions with rain breaks being more than the tea and lunch breaks.
India and Australia Rankings in the WTC Points table if Gabba Test gets Washed Out
Both India and Australia’s positions in the WTC points table remain unchanged in case of a washout in the third test match at the Gabba, by receiving four points each. As a result, India’s points surges upto 110 continuing with its third spot while Australia will gain 106 points securing its second position.
Despite the increase in points, India’s PCT will certainly drop from 57.29 to 55.88, while Australia’s PCT will decline from 60.71 to 58.89.
Possible Scenarios Left for India if the 3rd Test of the BGT 2024-25 gets washed out
Even though the frequent rain interruptions might be a big blow to India’s qualification chances for their third consecutive WTC final, they can achieve favorable outcomes by keeping their hopes alive based on the following scenarios:
First Scenario: 3-1 Outcome (Higher Chances to Qualify for WTC 2025 Final)
Suppose the Brisbane Test concludes with a draw, then India needs to win the forthcoming 4th and 5th test match of the series. This not only helps Rohit Sharma’s led side to emerge as the BGT 2024-25 winners with a 3-1 scoreline but also helps them rank at second position in the WTC points table after South Africa with an estimated PCT of 60.53.
Even if Australia manages to win against Sri Lanka with a clean sweep of 2-0, they would be settled in third position with 57.02 PCT.
Second Scenario: 3-2 Outcome (Moderate Chances to Qualify for WTC 2025 Final)
If India loses the Brisbane test and makes a comeback in the next two games, a 3-2 scoreline would make them rank at second spot with 58.77 PCT.
However, Pat Cummins’ led side will conclude in third spot if they win the 2-match test series against Sri Lanka by 1-0. Conversely, Australia’s 2-0 triumph over Sri Lanka would make India’s chances tougher by requiring favorable results from the South Africa vs Pakistan test series.
Third Scenario: 2-3 Outcome (Low Chances to Qualify for WTC 2025 Final)
A 2-3 scoreline indicates a series loss for India as well as ends their hopes to qualify for the WTC 2025 final, resulting in South Africa, Australia, and Sri Lanka’s possibility to rank ahead of them. Consequently, India might be able to make a hattrick of WTC finals based on these two conditions that purely depend upon luck:
- South Africa to lose the 2-match test series against Pakistan with 0-2.
Australia should draw at least one of two test matches against Sri Lanka and conclude the series with a 1-0 outcome
