Here’s how India can reach Test Championship final after Pakistan’s exit from the race

The loss to England in the second Test in Multan effectively put an end to Pakistan’s slim chances of reaching the 2023 Test Championship final. Babar Azam’s team has now lost the three-match Test series 2-0 after losing the first two games. The third Test between the two teams will now take place in Karachi and begin on December 17, three days after the first Test between India and Bangladesh in Chattogram.

Since losing by seven wickets to England in the fifth Test that was postponed at Edgbaston in July, India hasn’t played a test match. India is currently ranked fourth with a 52.08% win percentage in the points standings. With 42.42%, Pakistan, on the other hand, is sixth. India is right below Sri Lanka (53.33%), South Africa (60%) and Australia (75%) in the standings, with the top two teams advancing to the championship game.

They have just six more games left to play in the current cycle, including four at home against Australia in February and March of next year and two away to Bangladesh in the upcoming series. Australia will, incidentally, host three Test matches against South Africa. South Africa would present a different challenge because of their significantly better recent performance in Tests played in Australia, compared to the threat the West Indies posed for Australia.

Australia to tour India

Therefore, there is a good chance that one of the top two teams will lose before Australia face India. India is still one of the hardest teams to play at home, and they are confident they can defeat Australia in the series.

The best-case scenario for the Men in Blue would be winning all of their remaining games, which is feasible given India’s overwhelmingly strong home record against any team in the world and their ability to do good against Bangladesh. Their win percentage would increase to 68.06 if they won all of their remaining Test matches, giving them a good chance to finish in the top two.

However, India will be in danger of being eliminated with just one defeat in any of the upcoming games. The next difficult challenge for third-placed Sri Lanka is a two-Test series at home against reigning champions New Zealand. They have a slim chance of reaching the final because they can only increase their percentage to 61.9% if they defeat New Zealand 2-0.