What are India’s chances of reaching WTC finals if Gabba Test ends in draw?

Third test match in the Border Gavaskar series began on Saturday at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Just 13.2 overs were possible before heavy downpour halted proceedings with Australia placed at 28/0. According to the weather reports, the first day’s play was going to see rain interruption. Days two and three will get uninterrupted action with the final two days yet again likely to see downpour. 

Team India had come to Australia on the back of the 3-0 loss at home to New Zealand and needed a win. The visitors began well with a huge win in Perth before losing the second Test in Adelaide by a massive margin of 10-wickets. This pushed India to the third spot in World Test Championship table behind South Africa and Australia. 

There are growing concerns about India’s qualification hopes if the game in Brisbane ends in a draw. With Rohit Sharma’s side needing a series win, the odds seem to be suddenly stacked against India with 2 more games left to play. South Africa still have two more Tests to play while Australia travel to Sri Lanka after facing India at home. 

Also read: Rain set to hamper India’s WTC hopes? Check out weather update ahead of Brisbane Test

Will draw in Brisbane affect India’s WTC finals hopes?

With three Test matches to go, Rohit Sharma and his side need to win two matches and they can do with a drawn affair. If the Brisbane Test ends in a draw, then India has to win the final two games of the series in Melbourne and Sydney. This will take India’s percentage to 60.33 and at least guarantee them a second place finish in the table. 

In the case of India of winning the game in Brisbane and achieving the series win with 3-2 margin, even then they will have a chance to make it to the WTC finals. In that scenario, Sri Lanka has to draw one game against Australia even if Pat Cummins’s side win a game away from home. 

India has to avoid a series loss at all costs because in that case they could slip down the table. In such a scenario, the hopes will hinge on Pakistan winning both their Test matches in South Africa and the series between Australia and Sri Lanka seeing a minimum of one drawn game.