Where the WTC race stands now
India left Sri Lanka with a 1–0 series win, but the draw in Colombo kept the wider World Test Championship race far from settled. According to the ICC’s latest state-of-play update, Australia lead the 2025–27 table with a points percentage of 80, followed by defending champions South Africa on 75. India are fifth on 51.52, with Sri Lanka one place behind.
Those numbers can look strange if you are used to a conventional league table. The WTC is ranked by percentage of points won, not by a simple total. That approach is designed to compare teams that play a different number of Tests and series. A win is worth 12 points, a tie six and a draw four before any deductions for slow over rates. The percentage is then calculated against the maximum points a team could have earned from the matches it has played.
That is why a single result can create a noticeable swing. India won the opening Test of the Sri Lanka series and secured the series, but Dinusha Peiris’ resistance helped the hosts save the second match. The ICC match report confirmed that India took the series 1–0 while Sri Lanka collected valuable draw points.
Why India are still in the race
Fifth place sounds uncomfortable, but it does not end India’s chance of reaching the final. The important number is the points percentage, and the table can move quickly when leading teams begin longer series. India’s task is straightforward in principle: win a high proportion of their remaining Tests and avoid penalties that reduce their total.
The harder part is the schedule. Away Tests generally leave less room for error because unfamiliar pitches, weather and the home team’s bowling depth can turn one poor session into a defeat. Draws preserve some value, but a sequence of draws can also pull a contender’s percentage down when rivals keep winning.
India therefore need to treat every remaining series as part of the same qualification campaign rather than as an isolated contest. Batting collapses, missed catches and slow over-rate deductions all carry consequences that may only become obvious near the end of the cycle.
Australia and South Africa set the pace
Australia’s 80 percent mark reflects eight wins from ten Tests at the time of the ICC update. It gives them a strong platform, although it is not a guaranteed final place. South Africa’s 75 percent keeps the title-holders in the top two and places pressure on every chasing side.
The leading teams also have points still to defend. A difficult away tour or a drawn home series can compress the table. Because the final positions depend on percentages, a team with fewer completed matches may rise or fall sharply once it begins a new series.
What supporters should watch next
Three things matter more than the raw position beside a team’s name: matches remaining, where those matches are played and the maximum percentage still available. The ICC updates the official table after each Test, including any confirmed over-rate penalties.
For India, the Sri Lanka result was useful but not decisive. The series victory added momentum; the Colombo draw prevented a bigger jump. Their route to the WTC final remains open, but it now demands sustained wins rather than occasional strong performances.
Follow our Cricket section for standings updates, schedule guides and match explainers throughout the 2025–27 cycle.
