In Pune, India lost by 113 runs to New Zealand in the second Test match. With one game remaining in the series, they were behind 2-0 after this defeat. The 12-year trend of being undefeated at home was ended because this was India’s first Test series at home since 2012. Additionally, the string of defeats has diminished their chances of making it to the World Test Championship 2025 final.
With one match against New Zealand and a five-match series against Australia as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India has six games remaining in the cycle. In order to qualify for the WTC finals, India must win four out of the six games. According to former Indian cricket player Aakash Chopra, India faces a “Herculean task” in order to go to the final match.
“The most important question is what the WTC qualification scenario is, as India was on a dominance mission. We believed we would win all five home tests and advance with perfect scores. It’s a Herculean challenge to win four of the remaining six matches and tie one, according to the current situation,
Aakash Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is coming up, is going to be really tough, believe it or not. It will be very difficult to win this time, but we haven’t lost in ten years. Given South Africa’s home games, the qualification picture suddenly appears quite uncertain. The former cricket player for India went on, “That is the big one.”
South Africa, on the other hand, has two games each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan and one more match against Bangladesh, who they defeated in the first Test in Dhaka.
Also Read: Reports: Rohit and Kohli leave for Mumbai to be with family hours after Pune defeat
The Proteas will advance to the WTC 2025 final if they win their final five straight games. Notably, India and Australia are ranked first and second in the points chart, respectively.