With just 10 Tests left in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the race for the top two spots is heating up, with no team yet assured of a place in the final. South Africa leads the standings, but several teams, including Australia, India, and Sri Lanka, remain in contention.
South Africa tops the table with a percentage of 63.33 following their 2-0 sweep of Sri Lanka. They have two home Tests against Pakistan remaining, needing just one win to secure a final spot. A 1-1 series result would leave them at 61.11 per cent, vulnerable to India or Australia overtaking them. If both Tests end in a draw, South Africa’s percentage would drop to 58.33, potentially requiring India to beat Australia 3-2 or Australia to win both Tests against Sri Lanka to displace them.
| # | Teams | Matches Played | Matches Won | Matches Lost | Matches Drawn | Points | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 76 | 63.33 |
| 2 | Australia | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 102 | 60.71 |
| 3 | India | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 110 | 57.29 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 5 | England | 21 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 114 | 45.24 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 69 | 44.23 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 33.33 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 9 | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 24.24 |
Australia stands at 60.71 per cent with three home Tests against India and two away matches in Sri Lanka. A 2-1 series win against India would secure their place in the final. Even if they lose both matches in Sri Lanka, a 3-2 win against India would leave them at 55.26 per cent, sufficient to stay ahead of India and Sri Lanka. However, losing the series 2-3 to India would leave Australia dependent on winning both matches in Sri Lanka or hoping for South Africa to falter against Pakistan.
India, at 57.29 per cent, must win two matches and draw one in their three-Test series in Australia to secure at least 60.53 per cent and a top-two spot. A 3-2 series win would leave India at 58.77 per cent, ahead of Australia if they falter in Sri Lanka. However, a 2-3 loss would drop India to 53.51 per cent, requiring them to rely on South Africa losing both matches to Pakistan and Australia dropping points in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, currently at 45.45 per cent, has two home Tests against Australia remaining. Even with two wins, their percentage would peak at 53.85, leaving them dependent on both South Africa and one of India or Australia finishing below this mark. For this to happen, South Africa would need to lose both Tests, and Australia would need to win their series against India 2-1 with two draws.
Pakistan sits at 33.33 per cent with four matches left. Even with four wins, they can only reach 52.38 per cent, just short of South Africa’s current minimum. Their chances hinge on South Africa losing a match and several other results aligning in their favor, making their qualification highly unlikely.
Also See: ICC World Test Championship Points Table 2025 Standings and Rankings
Eliminated Teams
New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and West Indies are officially out of contention for the final.