India dropped its lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 Points Table after losing the first Test against New Zealand by eight wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Recovering from a first-innings debacle where they were bundled for 46, India made the Kiwis stretch to reach a 107-run target and record their first Test win in the country since 1988.
India's points percentage (PCT) slipped from 74.24 to 68.05 across 12 Tests this cycle, ahead of Australia who rank second with a 62.5 PCT. With their fourth win, New Zealand climbed up to the fourth spot.
WTC qualification scenarios for India after 1st Test loss vs New Zealand
India now have seven Tests remaining this cycle - two v New Zealand and five against Australia. Inda will need to win five of these games to reach the final without depending on other results. If other results sway their way, India can also qualify for next year's WTC final with four wins.
India will take on New Zealand in the second Test in Pune from October 24. The third Test will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1-5 before India fly out to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy series.
WTC TABLE after India's first Test loss vs New Zealand (October 20, 2024)
Pos. | Team | Matches | PTS DED. | Contested | Pts. | PCT | |||
P | W | L | D | ||||||
1 | India | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 144 | 98 | 68.05 |
2 | Australia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 144 | 90 | 62.5 |
3 | Sri Lanka | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 60 | 55.56 |
4 | New Zealand | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 48 | 44.44 |
5 | England | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 216 | 93 | 43.05 |
6 | South Africa | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 28 | 38.89 |
7 | Bangladesh | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 33 | 34.38 |
8 | Pakistan | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 108 | 28 | 25.92 |
9 | West Indies | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 108 | 20 | 18.5 |
IND vs NZ Test series schedule
2nd Test: Pune - October 24-28
3rd Test: Mumbai - November 1-5
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