Sun Dec 08 20:21:26 UTC 2024: ## India Slumps to Third in WTC Standings After Crushing Defeat in Adelaide
**Adelaide, Australia –** Australia levelled the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at 1-1 after a resounding 10-wicket victory over India in the second Test at Adelaide on December 8th, 2024. The crushing defeat sent shockwaves through the Indian camp, dropping them to third place in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
Australia’s dominant performance, built on a strong first innings total of 337 and a disciplined bowling attack, exposed India’s batting frailties. India managed only 180 and 175 in their two innings, setting Australia a paltry target of 19 runs, which they achieved without loss in just 3.2 overs.
This result significantly impacted the WTC standings. Australia now leads the table with 60.710 points (9 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw from 14 matches), while South Africa moved into second place with 59.260 points (5 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw from 9 matches). India, despite their earlier strong performance, slipped to third with 57.290 points (9 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw from 16 matches).
India captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating they failed to capitalize on opportunities. He expressed hope for a turnaround in the remaining three Tests of the series, all against Australia. India needs to win all three remaining matches to secure a place in the WTC final. However, with Australia’s renewed confidence, this will be a formidable challenge. The race to the WTC final remains tight, with South Africa and Sri Lanka also contenders. A 3-0 whitewash by India would eliminate Australia from contention, resulting in a WTC final between India and South Africa.
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