After drawing the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Thursday, India’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 final took a difficult turn.
Shubman Gill and company’s chances have been damaged after finishing the two-match series 1-0 with a victory in the first Test in Galle. They now face an almost impossible task of winning all of their remaining games.
After the draw, India’s points percentage (PCT) was 51.52; Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh occupied the four positions above them in the table. With a victory in Colombo, they would have risen to fourth place with a PCT of 63.33.
India would receive 140 points and a PCT of 64.81 if they won six of the seven, and 152 points and a PCT of 70.37 if they won all seven. However, because their standing also depends on how the teams above them play, even seven victories wouldn’t guarantee India a spot in the final.
Australia and South Africa, the finalists from the previous cycle, are still in the top two positions. Australia leads with a PCT of 80.00 following a 1-1 series draw with Bangladesh, while the Proteas are at 75.00.
WTC 2025-27 Remaining schedule
Australia
Best possible finish: 90.90 PCT
South Africa vs Australia – 3 Tests – October 9-31, 2026
Australia vs New Zealand – 4 Tests – December 9-8 January, 2027
India vs Australia – 5 Tests – January 21-3 March, 2027
Bangladesh
Best possible finish: 77.77
Bangladesh vs West Indies – 2 Tests – October 28-9 November, 2026
South Africa vs Bangladesh – 2 Tests – November 15-27, 2026
Bangladesh vs England – 2 Tests – February 2027
England
Best possible finish: Eliminated
England vs Pakistan (ongoing) – 3 Tests – August 19-September 13, 2026
South Africa vs England – 3 Tests – December 17-7 January, 2027
Bangladesh vs England – 2 Tests – February 2027
India
Best possible finish: 70.37
New Zealand vs India – 2 Tests – November 19-1 December, 2026
India vs Australia – 5 Tests – January 21-3 March, 2027
New Zealand
Best possible finish: 80.95
New Zealand vs India – 2 Tests – November 19-1 December, 2026
Australia vs New Zealand – 4 Tests – December 9-8 January, 2027
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – 2 Tests – February 4-16, 2027
Pakistan
Best possible finish: Eliminated
England vs Pakistan (ongoing) – 3 Tests – August 19-September 13, 2026
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka – 2 Tests – November 9-21, 2026
Pakistan vs New Zealand – 2 Tests – March 2027
South Africa
Best possible finish: 90.90
South Africa vs Australia – 3 Tests – October 9-31, 2026
South Africa vs Bangladesh – 2 Tests – November 15-27, 2026
Sri Lanka vs South Africa – 2 Tests – February 2027
Sri Lanka
Best possible finish: 66.67
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka – 2 Tests – November 9-21, 2026
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – 2 Tests – February 4-16, 2027
Sri Lanka vs South Africa – 2 Tests – February 2027
West Indies
Best possible finish: Eliminated
Bangladesh vs West Indies – 2 Tests – October 28-9 November, 2026
WTC 2025-27 Updated standings
| Rank | Team | P | W | L | D | Ded | Points | PCT |
| 1 | Australia | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 80.00 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 72.22 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 55.56 |
| 5 | India | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 51.52 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 33.33 |
| 7 | England [E] | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 50 | 29.76 |
| 8 | West Indies [E] | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 20.83 |
| 9 | Pakistan [E] | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 19.05 |
