With just a narrow margin separating the top five teams in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings, the race for the 2025 final is wide open. India and Australia are currently the frontrunners, setting up the possibility of a rematch of the 2023 WTC final, while Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa remain serious contenders.
India, leading with 62.82%, faces a critical upcoming series against New Zealand and Australia. Slip-ups could open the door for others, especially as India needs a strong performance against Australia to secure a spot in the final. Australia, close behind with 62.5%, has a slightly easier path with additional matches in Sri Lanka, where they have a chance to maintain their lead.
Sri Lanka holds third place and has a tough schedule, needing key wins in South Africa and against Australia to stay in contention. New Zealand, with 50%, must win all four remaining matches, including a difficult series against India, to remain viable for the final. South Africa, at 47.62%, could advance if they secure a series sweep against Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies trail behind, effectively out of the final contention but still aiming to finish the cycle on a high. With just one or two losses potentially altering the standings, the battle for the top two spots is set to be fierce, making the upcoming series essential for each team’s WTC hopes.