Australia's Victory Reshapes WTC Standings: How Does India Fare in the 2025-27 Cycle?

World Test Championship 2025-27: How Does India Stack Up After Australia's Victory?

The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle has commenced with a flurry of activity, as three Test series have already begun to define the early standings. While Australia and England have established themselves at the top, India and the West Indies are looking to recover lost ground.

Australia's captain Pat Cummins leads his 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 points percentage of 100 after securing victories in their opening matches. Sri Lanka follows in third place after concluding their two-match series against Bangladesh with one win and one draw. Bangladesh, having experienced a draw and a loss, is positioned fourth.

Meanwhile, several prominent teams, including the reigning champions South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan, are yet to begin their WTC campaigns in this cycle.

India faced an unexpected setback in their opening match, despite a valiant effort at Headingley. The team boasted five centurions in the match but ultimately suffered a defeat as England completed a remarkable chase to gain a 1-0 advantage in the five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Chasing a target of 371, England capitalized on a strong opening partnership between Ben Duckett (149) and Zak Crawley, while Joe Root and debutant Jamie Smith steered the chase to victory with an unbroken partnership. Shubman Gill’s side was left regretting a middle-order collapse and dropped catches that proved to be pivotal.

Following the match, Gill acknowledged that India had opportunities but failed to seize them. He indicated that India aimed for a more substantial lead, but a lack of runs from the lower order hindered their plans.

India will now shift their focus to the second Test at Edgbaston, with hopes of a swift recovery to keep their WTC campaign viable. Currently, they are positioned near the bottom of the table alongside the West Indies.

The WTC cycle commenced with Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh on June 17 and is scheduled to continue until the final in 2027.