Australia defeated India in the 3rd match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy to book a place in the Test Championship final. While India leads the four-match series 2-1, the visitors advanced to the final game of the second cycle of the Test Championship.
In the meantime, an outright victory in the fourth match in Ahmedabad will secure India’s place in the Test Championship final against Australia, but if Rohit Sharma’s team loses or draws, its fate will be determined by the outcome of the Sri Lanka-New Zealand series.
With their nine-wicket victory in Indore, Australia has already qualified for the grand finale at the Oval from June 7-11. Australia leads the table with 68.52 percentage points (PCT). Percentage points are calculated by dividing a team’s points earned by the points contested for. A team receives 12 points for a win, four for a draw, and six for a tie.
India’s PCT is 60.29, with 123 points earned in 17 Tests (10 wins and two draws). Due to the slow over rate, India has lost a few points during this cycle. If India wins the final Test, their PCT will rise to 62.5, with 135 points out of a possible 216. (18 Tests). They will then retain their second place and qualify for the final.
In the event of a defeat, India’s PCT will fall to 56.94, and they will have to rely on the outcome of Sri Lanka’s away series against New Zealand. If the match ends in a draw, India’s PCT will fall to 58.79, and they will still have to wait for the outcome of the Sri Lanka-New Zealand series. In the event of a tie, India’s PCT will be 59.72 points.
Sri Lanka still stands a chance to qualify
Sri Lanka‘s only chance at final qualification is a 2-0 victory in New Zealand, which is one of the most difficult away assignments for subcontinental teams. Their current PCT is 53.33 out of a possible 120 points (10 Tests).
If India loses, draws, or ties the final Test and Sri Lanka wins the series 2-0, their PCT will be 61.11, with 88 points out of a possible 144 points at stake. However, if Sri Lanka draws just one game and wins 1-0, their maximum PCT will be 55.55, which is less than India’s (56.94) even if they lose the final Test.
