How will India's whitewash against New Zealand affect its WTC prospects?

India's ambitions of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the third consecutive time suffered a significant blow after they lost the Mumbai Test to New Zealand on November 3. After bowling out New Zealand early for a target of 147 runs, India’s batting lineup collapsed spectacularly, finding themselves at a dismal 29 for 5 in the first session, with star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failing to contribute. Rishabh Pant provided a brief glimmer of hope with a quick-fire fifty off 48 balls, but following his dismissal after lunch, the team crumbled, losing the match by 25 runs.

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This defeat allowed New Zealand to secure a 3-0 series victory and boosted their chances of reaching the WTC final. India dropped from the top of the standings to second place, with their points percentage plummeting from over 72 to 58.33. Sri Lanka now closely follows them with a percentage of 55.56.

To secure a place in the final at Lord’s, India must win four out of their five remaining Tests and draw one in the current WTC cycle. Australia, currently leading the standings, requires five wins from their seven remaining matches to qualify without relying on other results. India’s next challenge will come during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, beginning on November 22 in Perth.