A single day of rain could be more than just a passing shower for India's WTC hopes
It’s Day 1 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Instead of the sound of leather on willow, all we hear is the soft patter of rain. As India’s hopes of securing a 3-0 series victory over New Zealand hang in the balance, there’s only one question on everyone’s mind: What if it rains throughout? The drizzle isn’t just dampening the outfield; it’s threatening to pour cold water on India’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
India vs Newzeland stop the match due to rain in Bengaluru.#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/Drk219E11B
— Malik Hammad (@Hammad_Iqbal786) October 16, 2024
India stands tall at the top of the WTC table, but don’t let that fool you. Their path to the final is anything but secure. Every win and every point counts, and Bengaluru’s stubborn skies might leave India needing a miracle.
The threat of rain is looming large, not just today but for the entire five days of this Test. Imagine the frustration. India needs nothing less than a 3-0 sweep to keep their WTC hopes alive, and one drawn match could throw them into troubled waters. What does that mean for the players, the fans, and the WTC table? Let’s break it down.
Rain stopped. Officials back but no signs of umpires. Good EDM music in the stadium though. Fans are hosting from time to time and the broadcasters are getting ready to come to the stadium but no permission yet. #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/i5au4fZ6gU
— Koustav Sengupta (@KoustavOfficial) October 16, 2024
In the high-stakes world of the WTC, a draw is almost as bad as a loss. Sure, India would still have two more matches against New Zealand, but anything less than three wins will make their path to the final much steeper. Suppose this first Test is abandoned due to rain. In that case, India must sweep the remaining two matches and somehow avoid defeat in the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. With Australia at home, that’s no small feat. The pressure would be immense.
Weather report today m chinnaswamy stadium🌨️🌧️#BengaluruRains #chennairain #INDvsNZ #INDvZ #BangaloreRains pic.twitter.com/45kDQKT8Qg
— A & K🇮🇳 (@badjocker1020) October 16, 2024
India’s WTC hopes rely on a delicate balance of wins, draws, and points percentages. Sitting comfortably with a points percentage (PCT) of 74.24, India currently holds the top spot on the WTC table. That gives them control of their destiny—for now. But a single rain-soaked draw could shift the equation drastically. India needs at least four wins out of their remaining six matches to stay in the race for the final, leaving them with a PCT of 67.54. But if they fall short, the door swings open for teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia to leap ahead.
WTC points table 2023-2025 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/2ORKuzeMFE
— YUGAL KISHOR GURJAR (@YugalGurjar) October 16, 2024
Sri Lanka, for example, has four Tests remaining—two away in South Africa and two at home against Australia. If they manage to win all four matches, they’ll finish with a PCT of 66.66, qualifying regardless of India’s results. Even if Sri Lanka wins three and loses one, they could still end up with 61.54, giving them a fighting chance if India slips up.
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🔔 WTC scenarios: Can Sri Lanka pip India in the race to the final?
India and Australia are primed to make it to the WTC Final but Sri Lanka and South Africa do have a chance if results go their way
Source - Cricbuzz#CrickInfo #CricketTwitter #ස්නයිපර් pic.twitter.com/rnhVEhhc5E
South Africa, on the other hand, could also make things tricky. They have five matches left—two away against Bangladesh and three at home against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. If South Africa wins all five, they’ll finish with a PCT of 69.44, potentially pushing India out of the top two if India doesn’t meet its win targets.
WTC Finals Qualification Scenario after SL-NZ & Ind-Ban series
— Krishna Kumar (@KrishnaKRM) October 1, 2024
58.5% cutoff, but teams that don't have matches against India or Australia (i.e South Africa) have to overshoot to 60% pic.twitter.com/AQsLhs9kGY
Then there’s Australia, the ever-dangerous side. If they win all seven remaining matches, they’ll surge to a PCT of 70.17. Even winning five of those seven matches would leave them at 65.79, a tally that could easily outpace India if rain plays a more significant role in these upcoming Tests. Australia, with a home advantage in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, will be licking their chops at the possibility of shaking up the WTC standings.
In short, every point, every win, and every moment counts. If rain continues to dampen India’s campaign against New Zealand, their path to the final becomes significantly more perilous. The numbers don’t lie—India cannot afford to let this slip.