In a dramatic turn of events at Hyderabad, England orchestrated a remarkable comeback, clinching victory in the series opener against India by 28 runs. The standout performances by Ollie Pope, who delivered a phenomenal knock of 196 runs, and left-arm spinner Tom Hartley were pivotal for the visiting English side.
Skipper Ben Stokes deemed it the greatest triumph under his captaincy, as England, trailing by 190 runs after the first inning, executed a stunning turnaround on Days 3 and 4. While England celebrated, India grappled with the realisation that their dominant performance in the initial days had slipped away. Captain Rohit Sharma attributed the loss to the top-order batters, including himself, citing a lack of application in the second inning.
However, the defeat cost India dearly in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, plummeting three places to fifth with a reduced percentage from 54.16 to 43.33. Australia, despite a loss, retained the top spot, with their percentage decreasing from 61.11 to 55. South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh secured places 2, 3, and 4, respectively, boasting a 50.00 percentage.
England continues to stay below contention
Despite England’s triumph, they remained at No. 8 in the standings. The loss of 19 points due to an over-rate penalty may pose a challenge in the upcoming matches. Simultaneously, the West Indies, despite their historic victory against Australia, maintained their 7th position. Notably, the young West Indian side beat Australia in Brisbane on Sunday by 8 runs in a day-night test. This was their first Test win in Australian conditions after 27 years.
As the cricketing focus shifts to the second Test starting on February 2 in Vizag, India aims to level the series and stay in contention for the WTC final. The upcoming clash adds another layer of significance to the ongoing battle for supremacy in the apex cricket competition.
Here is the updated WTC points table:
| Ranking | Team | Played | Win | Loss | Draw | Points | PCT (%) |
| 1 | Australia | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 66 | 55.00 |
| 2 | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 5 | India | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 43.33 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 36.66 |
| 7 | West Indies | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 33.33 |
| 8 | England | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 29.16 |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00 | 0.00 |
