India Drops to 4th in ICC WTC 2025-27 Standings; South Africa in Top 2
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027 standings saw significant changes following the recent Test match between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. India suffered a disappointing defeat by 30 runs, which caused them to drop to fourth place in the standings.
Match Summary
On Sunday, India faced a challenging target of 123 runs but fell short, collapsing for just 93 runs on a pitch favoring spin bowlers. This defeat also marked a crucial blow for India, as Test captain Shubman Gill was sidelined due to a neck spasm.
South Africa’s Performance
South Africa, led by captain Temba Bavuma, scored 153 runs in their second innings. Bavuma’s contribution of 55 not out was pivotal, as he was the only player to exceed 40 runs in the match. This victory was particularly significant as it marked South Africa’s first Test win in India in the last 15 years.
Current Standings in WTC 2025-2027
Following the match, the updated ICC WTC 2025-2027 standings are as follows:
| Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100.00 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 66.67 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4 | India | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 54.17 |
| 5 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 6 | England | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 43.33 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 8 | West Indies | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 9 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
India’s Challenging Record
This loss was India’s third in the ongoing WTC cycle, following two earlier defeats in England. Under coach Gautam Gambhir, this was the second Test loss at home while chasing under 150 runs, a statistic that raises concerns about the team’s performance in pressure situations. Historically, no other team has suffered a similar fate while pursuing small targets at home in the 21st century.
- Points are awarded as follows: 12 points for a win, 6 points for a tie, and 4 points for a draw.
- Teams are ranked based on the percentage of points earned.
- The top two teams will advance to the WTC final in 2027.
