India's hopes of qualifying for the 2024-25 World Test Championship (WTC) Final have taken a severe blow following a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand. The defeat, capped off by a 25-run loss in the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium, marked the first time India has been clean-swept in a Test series of three or more matches at home.

Before the series, India needed four wins from their remaining eight WTC matches to comfortably qualify for the final. However, with three consecutive defeats against New Zealand, the Rohit Sharma-led team now faces a daunting task. They will need to win four of their remaining five matches, and at least draw one, to stand a chance of securing their spot in the final.

India's next and only remaining Test series in this WTC cycle is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22 in Australian conditions—a notoriously difficult challenge. To qualify outright, India will need to win the series 4-0 or better, an outcome that seems increasingly difficult against the formidable Australian side.

Australia currently leads the WTC standings with a points percentage (PCT) of 62.50, followed by India with a PCT of 58.33. India has won eight matches, lost five, and drawn one out of their 14 WTC matches. Other teams in the hunt for the final include Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa, each with varying chances of progressing depending on their upcoming matches.

India’s Qualification Scenarios:

Win the Australia Series 4-0 or Better: India’s most straightforward path to the WTC Final is to beat Australia convincingly. A 4-0 or better result would automatically qualify them without relying on the outcomes of other teams’ matches.

Depend on Other Teams' Results: If India cannot secure a 4-0 win, their chances of qualification will depend on the performances of other teams. Specifically:

* India will need New Zealand to avoid a clean sweep against England in their upcoming three-match home series.

* Sri Lanka and South Africa must lose more matches than they win in their remaining fixtures. Both teams have a series scheduled in the next few months, with Sri Lanka set to face Australia at home, and South Africa hosting Pakistan and Sri Lanka in their final WTC assignments.

Key Matches to Watch:

Australia vs India (November 22 – January 7): The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is pivotal for India’s WTC campaign.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka (November 27 – December 9): This two-match series will significantly impact both teams' chances of making the final.

New Zealand vs England (November 28 – December 18): New Zealand will play their final WTC series at home, and India will hope England can avoid a whitewash.

Sri Lanka vs Australia (January 29 – February 10): Sri Lanka’s last chance to strengthen their WTC standing comes with this series at home.

India has been a runner-up in the previous two WTC cycles, losing the finals to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023. With the current WTC cycle coming to a dramatic conclusion, the Men in Blue will need to regroup quickly to avoid another missed opportunity at the grand finale.