WTC Final 2023: India qualify for summit clash against Australia

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team has qualified for the World Test Championship final for the second time in a row. Though India had to win the fourth Test of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, New Zealand’s thrilling victory over Sri Lanka in their first Test opened doors for India.

For India to qualify, the Rohit Sharma-led side had to win the four-match Test series against Australia by either 3-0 or 3-1. For Sri Lanka to qualify for the WTC Final, they had to defeat New Zealand by 2-0 in the Test series. Any other result of the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka clash would have fulfilled India’s qualification criteria and that is exactly what happened.

Sri Lanka gave their best till the final ball of the game, but Kane Williamson remained unbeaten and took his side home on the final delivery by scoring 121*(194). The game came down the wire as New Zealand needed one run to win off the final delivery, and Sri Lanka had to defend it so as the draw the match. But Williamson crossed the line just a second before the bails were dislodged as he saved himself from the run-out to win the game.

New Zealand win a dramatic Test vs Sri Lanka

India, on the other hand, are currently playing Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Out of the four games of the series, the ongoing fourth Test is the only one that went past the third day and witnessed a complete five-day match. The two sides will be playing till the end of the day’s play, but India won’t be worried about the result of the game now.

Nevertheless, India would be eyeing to either win the final Test or draw the game so as to clinch the series 3-1 or 2-1. Ever since December 2022, when India resumed their red-ball campaign, the Rohit Sharma-led side had been on the edge of qualification. But with their terrific performances in the first two Tests against Australia and New Zealand’s nail-biting triumph, India go into the WTC Final.

The summit clash will take place at The Oval on June 7 as Australia and India will lock horns again. India played the previous edition of the WTC final against New Zealand but the then Virat Kohli-led side failed to lift the Test mace. With two new contenders, it would be interesting to see which side wins the championship title.