WTC Standings: Australia's Win Shifts Focus to India's Performance

The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 has commenced with intense competition, as evidenced by the results of the initial Test series. While teams like Australia and England are leading the pack, India and the West Indies are under pressure to improve their standings.

Australia's captain Pat Cummins leads this team off the pitch after defeating West Indies (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Australia and England currently hold the top two positions in the WTC table, both with a perfect point percentage of 100 after securing wins in their first matches. Sri Lanka is in third place, having concluded their two-match series against Bangladesh with a win and a draw. Bangladesh is positioned fourth with one draw and one loss.

Meanwhile, South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan, who are all former champions, are yet to begin their WTC campaigns in this cycle.

India's first match did not go as planned, despite a strong effort at Headingley. The team had five centurions, but ultimately lost the match as England successfully chased the target, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

England achieved the target of 371 thanks to a strong opening partnership between Ben Duckett (149) and Zak Crawley, with Joe Root and debutant Jamie Smith completing the chase with an unbroken partnership. India's middle-order collapse and dropped catches were significant factors in their defeat.

Following the match, Shubman Gill acknowledged that India had opportunities but failed to capitalize on them. He mentioned that the team had aimed for a larger lead, but a lack of runs from the lower order impacted their plans.

India will now focus on the second Test at Edgbaston, hoping to recover and maintain their WTC campaign. As of now, they are near the bottom of the table, alongside the West Indies.

The WTC cycle began with Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh on June 17 and will continue until the final in 2027.