Team India have dropped to fifth in the points table in the 2021-23 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle after South Africa defeated New Zealand by 198 runs in the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. India have 53 points courtesy of four wins and two draws from 10 matches in the WTC. Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa are presently placed above India in the WTC table.
Back in December-January, India lost their overseas three-match Test series against South Africa 1-2. They started with a win in the opening Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. But losses at the Wanderers in Johannesburg and Newlands in Cape Town meant India lost the series. Thereafter, Virat Kohli stepped down as the skipper of the Test team after serving them for seven years.
India next set to face Sri Lanka in WTC 2021-23
India are next scheduled to lock horns with Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series, and Rohit Sharma will be leading them in the WTC games. Sharma was earlier named the vice-captain for the South Africa Tests before being elevated as the skipper following Kohli’s resignation. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) also decided to felicitate Sharma for being India’s skipper across three formats.
The opening Test against the Lankans is set to get underway on Friday, March 4 at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. The second Test, starting Saturday, March 12 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, is a Day-Night affair. India have a great chance of securing wins and moving up the ladder in the points’ table in the 2021-23 WTC.
Until now, India have secured two victories against England, one win against New Zealand and a solitary triumph against South Africa. New Zealand, Bangladesh, West Indies and England are placed below India in the WTC points table.
South Africa had lost their opening Test to New Zealand in Christchurch by an innings and 276 runs. But they made a comeback to draw level in the series. Kagiso Rabada became the Player of the Match in the second Test for his all-round show with bat and ball.
