India's Historic Victory Over Afghanistan Yields No WTC Points Amid Tournament Format Controversy India’s cricket team secured a record-breaking 300-run victory over Afghanistan in a Test match, marking a historic milestone in the sport’s history. However, the win did not translate into any points for the team in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, as the match was classified as a promotional fixture for Afghanistan’s cricket development rather than a competitive WTC event. This decision has sparked discussions about the criteria for qualifying matches in the tournament. The match, held as part of Afghanistan’s efforts to boost its cricketing profile, was not included in the WTC’s official standings. Despite the overwhelming margin of victory—India’s innings surpassed Afghanistan’s by a staggering 300 runs—the result holds no weight in the tournament’s rankings. India, currently ranked sixth in the WTC points table with a 48.15 winning percentage, faces a challenging path to the final. To secure a spot in the final, the team must win at least seven of the nine Test matches remaining in the current cycle. The WTC format awards 12 points for a win, four for a draw, and six for a tie. India’s current tally of 48.15% reflects its performance across the 2025-27 cycle, which includes matches against England, West Indies, and South Africa. While India has achieved notable results—such as a 2-2 draw against England and a 2-0 sweep over the West Indies—the team’s performance against South Africa in a home series led to a 2-0 whitewash, dropping it to sixth place. The upcoming fixtures will be critical for India’s WTC aspirations. The team must navigate a grueling schedule featuring series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia.#india #afghanistan #test_match #world_test_championship #wtc_points_table
India's Squad Updated for ODI Series Against Afghanistan After Test Victory Following a resounding Test series victory over Afghanistan, the Indian cricket team has announced significant changes to its squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series. The Test match, which concluded on June 6, 2026, saw India triumph by an innings and 300 runs, securing a dominant position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. This success prompted a strategic overhaul of the squad, with seven players dropped from the original Test team to prepare for the ODI series. The updated squad for the ODI series includes 15 players, with seven new additions replacing those who were exclusively selected for the Test series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had initially selected 14 players for the Test, with seven chosen solely for that format and seven for the ODI series. However, the overlap of eight players between the two squads means that the seven Test-specific players will now be excluded from the ODI squad. This adjustment ensures a fresh approach for the ODI series, which will commence on June 13. The final ODI squad includes Shubman Gill as captain, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Princ Lal, Gurkeerat Singh Brar, and Harsh Dhull. Notably, the inclusion of players like Prasidh Krishna and Gurkeerat Singh Brar highlights the team's focus on depth and variety in the middle order. Virat Kohli's participation in the series remains uncertain due to reported hamstring injuries, though the BCCI has not officially confirmed his fitness status.#india #shubman_gill #afghanistan #board_of_control_for_cricket_in_india #world_test_championship
India Takes a Major Hit in WTC, Bangladesh Sweeps Pakistan to Snatch 5th Place Bangladesh secured a dominant 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan, propelling the team to fifth place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table while pushing India down to sixth. The win marked a significant shift in the rankings, with Bangladesh’s performance in the two-match series solidifying its position ahead of India. Pakistan, meanwhile, remained eighth after a dismal campaign. The series began with Bangladesh defeating Pakistan by 104 runs in the first Test, followed by a 78-run victory in the second match. These results gave Bangladesh four Test matches played, with two wins, one loss, and one draw, earning them 28 points out of a possible 48, translating to a 58.33% win percentage (PCT). This placed the Tigers at fifth in the standings. India, which had 52 points from nine matches (48.15% PCT), slipped to sixth after losing to Bangladesh. India’s struggles continued as it failed to secure a spot in the WTC final for the second consecutive cycle. The team’s recent performances have been inconsistent, with losses to South Africa and England. India’s upcoming Test schedule includes a single match against Afghanistan starting June 6, which will not count toward the current WTC cycle. The team also plans to face Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the coming months, with a crucial series against Australia in 2027 on home soil. Pakistan’s position in the rankings has deteriorated further. After losing both Tests to Bangladesh, the team now has only one win in four matches, earning just 4 points (8.33% PCT). The loss in the second Test saw Pakistan collapse to 358 runs short of its target of 437. The WTC points table currently features Australia at the top with 87.#pakistan #india #australia #bangladesh #world_test_championship
