India's chances of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the third consecutive time took a substantial hit as they suffered a stunning defeat in the Mumbai Test against New Zealand on Sunday, November 3. Entering the final day with optimism after dismissing New Zealand early in the morning, the Indian team had a manageable target of 147 runs to chase down at the Wankhede Stadium. However, what followed was a dramatic batting collapse that left fans and analysts stunned, as the Indian batting lineup fell apart in one of their most unexpected performances on home soil.
The Indian batting order looked vulnerable right from the outset. New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly their spinners, exploited the conditions brilliantly, leaving India reeling at 29 for 5 within the first session. The early dismissals of key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom failed to get going, set a grim tone for the chase. With India’s top order faltering, the pressure mounted, and the team quickly found themselves struggling to stabilize their innings.
Amidst the collapse, Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive style of play, attempted to rescue the innings with a fearless knock. Taking the attack to the New Zealand bowlers, Pant scored a brisk fifty off just 48 balls, keeping India’s hopes alive momentarily. His audacious approach provided the crowd with a glimmer of hope, as he dispatched boundaries and seemed to unsettle the New Zealand spinners. However, his dismissal shortly after lunch proved to be the turning point of the innings. Once Pant departed, India’s remaining wickets fell swiftly, and the hosts were bowled out, handing New Zealand a memorable 25-run victory.
This defeat meant that New Zealand clinched the series 3-0, significantly boosting their own WTC final prospects while dealing a heavy blow to India’s standing. With this loss, India dropped from the top position in the WTC standings, where they had started the series with a points percentage above 72%. Following the Mumbai Test, India's percentage fell sharply to 58.33, putting them in a vulnerable position. Australia, capitalizing on India's stumble, moved into the lead. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, sitting just below India with a points percentage of 55.56, is now closing in, making the competition for the WTC final even tighter.
New Zealand’s remarkable performance in India propelled them to fourth place in the WTC standings, with a points percentage of 54.55 after winning six out of their 11 Tests so far. South Africa, with a percentage of 54.17, follows closely behind. The lower half of the standings includes England at 40.79%, Pakistan at 33.33%, Bangladesh at 27.50%, and the West Indies at 18.52%. These teams remain in contention but face uphill battles with fewer matches remaining to improve their standings significantly.
For India, the road to the WTC final is now a challenging one. With only five matches left in the current WTC cycle, they will need to secure four wins and one draw to ensure a place in the final without relying on the outcomes of other matches. This demanding requirement underscores the importance of their upcoming series against Australia, known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series, set to begin on November 22 in Perth, will likely be a defining moment in India’s WTC campaign. However, the team may face additional challenges as captain Rohit Sharma is awaiting the birth of his second child and could potentially miss a portion of the series, which could impact India’s stability and leadership on the field.
Australia, currently at the top of the WTC standings, also faces a challenging path but needs five wins out of their remaining seven matches to secure a spot in the final without depending on other teams’ results. Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa, all trailing close behind, must win all their remaining matches to keep their WTC final hopes alive, as any loss could likely eliminate them from contention.
As India heads into the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar series, they will need to address their weaknesses, particularly in the batting department, which was exposed by New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack. The Indian management will likely assess the lineup, strategies, and approach, especially in handling spin in testing conditions. India’s performance in this upcoming series is crucial, as every win and loss will directly impact their chances of securing a spot in the WTC final at Lord’s. For fans and players alike, this upcoming stretch promises intense, high-pressure cricket, with each match carrying immense significance.
The Mumbai Test loss has undeniably intensified the race to the WTC final, setting up a thrilling competition among the top teams. With India, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka all contending fiercely, the final stages of the WTC cycle are likely to be closely watched, as cricket fans around the world anticipate the culmination of this journey at Lord’s. For India, recovering from this setback and performing well against Australia will be critical, not only to regain lost ground in the standings but to reaffirm their position as one of the premier Test teams globally.
Â
