India's WTC Final Hopes in Jeopardy with Follow-on Against Australia, Potential Brisbane Washout Looms Large

India find themselves in a do-or-die situation as they strive to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final. Despite starting strong with a commanding 295-run victory in the series opener in Perth, a setback in Adelaide has pushed them down to the third position in the WTC points table. With South Africa securing a whitewash against Sri Lanka at home, India must bounce back and win their upcoming matches to keep their final hopes alive.

A second consecutive defeat in the series could end India's chances of making the WTC final for the third straight time. Even if India bounce back to win in Melbourne and Sydney in the last two matches, the most they can amass is 58.8 per cent, while Australia, currently second on the table, can still get to 60.5 per cent, given they whitewash Sri Lanka at home in their final series. This implies a 3-2 result will not be enough for India to make the final independently. They would, hence, need Sri Lanka to pull off a stunner against Australia and Pakistan against South Africa to qualify for the final. If the Islanders can draw at least one game against Australia in the series next month, India will go through, as the Aussies would not be able to cross 57 per cent.

With bad weather forecast for the remaining two days in Brisbane, India's only hope would be to escape the current situation with a draw. But it will do little good for the visitors, who will then have to win in Melbourne and Sydney to make the final. If they lose in either Melbourne or Sydney, resulting in a 2-2 draw in the series, India would need Sri Lanka to beat the Aussie 1-0 in their contest. The result would leave India at 55.3%, while Australia at 53.5 per cent, resulting in a qualification for the final.