Sun Nov 03 07:30:00 UTC 2024: ## India Suffers Crushing 0-3 Series Defeat to New Zealand, WTC Final Hopes Dwindle

**Mumbai:** India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final suffered a major blow after they lost the third and final test against New Zealand by 25 runs, losing the series 0-3. The defeat at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai also saw India slip to second place in the WTC standings.

New Zealand, chasing a target of 147 runs, were bowled out for 121. Ajaz Patel was the hero for the Kiwis, claiming a total of 11 wickets in the match. India’s only resistance came from Rishabh Pant, who scored 64 runs.

The defeat has put India in a precarious position in the WTC standings. Their points percentage has fallen to 58.33 from 62.82, while Australia has moved to the top spot. New Zealand, on the other hand, have kept their hopes of qualifying for the final alive.

India now face a challenging task of winning four out of five matches and drawing one against Australia in their upcoming series on Australian soil. Any loss could make their qualification dependent on other team’s results.

**WTC Standings:**

* **1st:** Australia (90 points, 62.50%)
* **2nd:** India (98 points, 58.33%)
* **3rd:** Sri Lanka (60 points, 55.56%)
* **4th:** New Zealand
* **5th:** South Africa
* **6th:** England
* **7th:** Pakistan
* **8th:** Bangladesh
* **9th:** West Indies

The WTC final, scheduled for June 2025 at Lord’s, will be contested by the top two teams at the end of the cycle. The ICC points system awards 12 points for a win, 6 points for a tie, and 4 points for a draw. Teams are ranked based on their points percentage, and penalties can be imposed for slow over rates.

**India’s path to the final is now fraught with challenges. They need to achieve an almost perfect record against Australia, a task that is easier said than done.**

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