Finance
After New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in a thrilling last-ball win at the Hagley Oval on Monday, India has qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final of the 2021-23 cycle, which will begin on June 7 at The Oval.
The other team in contention for a spot in the WTC final was Sri Lanka. However, after losing the first Test by two wickets to New Zealand, India has cleared the way for the final and a meeting with Australia.
With the Ahmedabad Test draw, Sri Lanka needed to win the two-match Test series 2-0 to qualify. However, rain in Christchurch cut their quest short by an entire session to defend 284 runs against the Blackcaps
Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 121, supported by Daryl Mitchell’s outstanding 81, gave New Zealand a thrilling victory. It also ensured that India will face Australia in the WTC final at The Oval from June 7-11, nine days after the end of the IPL 2023.
Taking a 2-1 series lead in the first three Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests at home against Australia proved enough for Rohit Sharma’s team to secure a place in the WTC final.
The icing on the cake for confirming their WTC final spot was avoiding defeat in the ongoing fourth Test at Ahmedabad, which is headed for a draw. With Sri Lanka’s loss to New Zealand, Rohit Sharma’s team cannot drop below second place in the WTC points table.
India began their World T20 campaign for the 2021-23 cycle in England, where they took a 2-1 lead over Joe Root’s men before the fifth Test in Manchester was postponed until July 2022 due to Covid.
They would go on to lose the fifth Test match in Birmingham, but series victories over New Zealand and Sri Lanka at home, followed by an away series victory over Bangladesh, set them up for a charge to the WTC final.
Their Border-Gavaskar Trophy series victory qualifies them for a World Test Championship final against Australia on neutral ground at The Oval in London, with the winner taking home the World Test Championship mace. India was defeated by New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021, as Kane Williamson’s side chased down a 139-run in Southampton.
Source:OCN
