Rahul Dravid Backs India’s Chances to Qualify for World Test Championship Final

Former head coach Rahul Dravid has voiced confidence in India’s ability to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final, noting that the squad’s inherent quality means they should never be ruled out despite a challenging pathway ahead.

What Happened

Speaking to JioHotstar, Rahul Dravid discussed India’s prospects in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. India recently improved their position on the points table by securing a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test match held at Galle. This victory provided the squad with 12 points, moving their total tally to 64 points across 10 matches and improving their points percentage (PCT) to 53.33, placing them fifth in the overall WTC table.

Dravid acknowledged that while the squad has fallen behind somewhat in the standings, their quality keeps them in contention. He also pointed out the demanding roadmap ahead, which includes a two-match away series in New Zealand and a five-match home series against Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Key Highlights

• India secured 12 points following a 165-run triumph in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, taking their total points to 64 from 10 games with a 53.33 points percentage.
• India currently occupies fifth place in the World Test Championship standings, with seven fixtures remaining in the ongoing cycle.
• The upcoming schedule includes a tour of New Zealand for two Tests in November, followed by a five-match home Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia starting in January.
• Dravid highlighted the challenges of touring New Zealand, noting the relative lack of experience among younger players in those conditions and the absence of veterans such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara from the previous visit.
• India suffered a 2-0 series defeat during their previous Test tour of New Zealand.
• Australia, captained by Pat Cummins, will be pursuing their first Test series victory on Indian soil since 2004.

Why This Matters

With only seven matches remaining in the current cycle, every result directly influences India’s potential qualification for the final. A successful campaign requires navigating difficult overseas conditions in New Zealand followed by hosting a competitive Australian squad. Dravid emphasized that keeping players injury-free over the coming months will be critical to overcoming the absence of experienced players who featured in prior overseas campaigns.

What to Watch Next

India is currently contesting the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, where the hosts trailed India’s first-innings score by 238 runs at Stumps on Day 3. Following the conclusion of the series in Sri Lanka, the team will turn its attention to the two-match Test tour of New Zealand in November, followed by the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at home beginning in January.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does India currently stand in the World Test Championship cycle?

India sits in fifth position in the WTC standings with 64 points and a points percentage of 53.33 after 10 matches.

How many matches does India have left in this WTC cycle?

India has seven matches remaining in the cycle, which includes two Tests in New Zealand and five home Tests against Australia.

When was Australia’s last Test series win in India?

According to Rahul Dravid, the Australian team has not won a Test series in India since 2004.

Source: Reporting based on statements made by Rahul Dravid to JioHotstar via CricTracker.