India’s 2‑0 Sweep Over West Indies lifts WTC PCT to 61.90, Keeps Team Third
When India cricket team wrapped up a 2‑0 series win against the West Indies cricket team on October 14, 2025, the points percentage (PCT) jumped to 61.90, cementing a solid third‑place spot in the World Test Championship ladder.
Here’s the skinny: the final Test finished at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with captain Shubman Gill steering the ship and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal smashing a career‑high 175. Meanwhile, left‑arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav ripped out 5‑82 in the first innings. The win nudged India up to 52 points, still trailing Australia’s flawless 100 % PCT but edging closer to a final berth.
How the 2025‑2027 World Test Championship Works
The ICC World Test Championship 2025‑2027Various international venues is the fourth edition of the league‑style contest that began on June 17, 2025, when Sri Lanka faced Bangladesh at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The schedule features 27 series, 71 Tests, and each side plays six series – three at home, three away.
Points are simple: a win yields 12, a tie 6, a draw 4, and a loss none. Teams are ranked by the percentage of points earned out of points contested – not raw points – which is why Australia can sit on a perfect 100 % PCT despite only 36 points. The top two by PCT after the league stage, slated to finish in June 2027, will clash at Lord's Cricket Ground in London for the championship.
India’s Sweep Over West Indies: Test‑by‑Test Breakdown
First Test, Delhi: India posted 518‑5, anchored by Jaiswal’s 175 – a monumental effort that puts him alongside a select group of pre‑24 legends, with only Sir Don Bradman having more 150‑plus scores at that age. Gill, unbeaten on 129, became the first Indian captain to notch two centuries in a single series since the format’s inception.
West Indies stumbled to 248, and Yadav’s 5‑82 paired with Ravindra Jadeja’s 3‑46 forced a follow‑on. In the second innings, the Caribbean side bobbed back with 311‑9, thanks to John Campbell’s 115 and Shai Hope’s 103, but a dramatic collapse from 311‑2 to 311‑9 saw them rely on a 79‑run stand between Justin Greaves (50*) and Jayden Seales (32) for a glimmer of respectability.
Chasing a modest 121 on day five, India cruised to a seven‑wicket win, sealing the series 2‑0. The result added 12 points to India’s tally, pushing the PCT up to 61.90 – a three‑point jump that fans and analysts alike see as a turning point.
Current Standings and What They Mean
- Australia – 36 points, 100 % PCT (3 wins)
- Sri Lanka – 16 points, 66.67 % PCT (1 win of 2 matches)
- India – 52 points, 61.90 % PCT (4 wins of 7 matches)
- England – 26 points, 43.33 % PCT
- Pakistan – 12 points, 100 % PCT (1 win)
Even though India's raw points sit below Australia’s, the percentage system favours consistency over volume. That nuance explains why a team with a single win can rank higher than a side that’s played more matches but dropped points.
West Indies, after five Tests with zero points, are languishing at the bottom. Their only bright spots were the twin centuries in the second Test, but the overall collapse underscores a deeper need for structural reform.
Expert Views on the Title Race
Former Australian skipper Steve Smith told NDTV Sports Desk that “India’s batting depth, especially the emergence of Jaiswal, makes them a genuine threat, but they must tighten up their bowling in overseas conditions.”
Cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle added, “The points‑percentage model rewards teams that finish series early. Australia’s clean sweep so far is the benchmark; India now has to chase that consistency, especially in the upcoming away series against England.”
Meanwhile, ICC’s Technical Committee chief David Richardson noted that “the over‑rate deductions are a wake‑up call. Teams losing a point for each missed over could see their PCT slide quickly if they don’t manage game tempo.”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Contenders?
India’s next challenge is an away tour to England in early 2026, where the white‑ball conditions will test their swing bowlers and middle order. A strong performance could catapult them into the top two, especially if Australia falters in their upcoming series against South Africa.
Australia, meanwhile, will host New Zealand in a three‑Test series at the Gabba and MCG. A loss there would be the first blemish on their perfect record and could tighten the race considerably.
Sri Lanka, sitting second on PCT, will look to capitalize on home advantage versus Pakistan later this year. A win would push them within a whisker of Australia, making the final showdown at Lord’s a truly open contest.
All eyes are on the statistic‑driven race, but as the Wisden editorial observes, “Cricket’s beauty lies in its unpredictability – the points percentages may tell one story, but the on‑field drama writes another.”
Key Takeaways
- India’s 2‑0 sweep over West Indies lifts its PCT to 61.90, keeping third place alive.
- Australia remains unbeaten with a perfect 100 % PCT.
- The points‑percentage system means raw points are less important than efficiency.
- Upcoming series, especially India’s England tour, will likely decide the final two.
- Over‑rate penalties could become decisive as the league stage tightens.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does India's PCT of 61.90 compare to Australia's perfect record?
Australia’s 100 % PCT comes from winning all three of its league matches (12 points each). India’s 61.90 reflects four wins out of seven tests, meaning they’ve earned 52 of a possible 84 points. While the raw point gap is 16, the percentage system favours efficiency, so India must win most of its remaining series to overtake Australia.
What impact does the over‑rate deduction have on teams' standings?
If a side falls short of the required overs per hour, the ICC deducts one point for each missed over. In a tight race, a single point loss can drop a team’s PCT by several tenths, potentially moving them out of the top‑two bracket.
Which upcoming series are most crucial for India’s title hopes?
India’s 2026 tour of England is pivotal; a series win there would bring them close to Australia’s PCT. A loss would widen the gap. The England series also offers a chance to improve their away‑match percentage, a key tiebreaker.
Why does the points‑percentage system matter more than total points?
Because teams play a varying number of matches, the percentage normalises performance. A side that wins all its games, even if few, can outrank a side with more wins but also more losses, keeping the competition fair across uneven schedules.
When and where will the WTC final be held?
The championship final is set for June 2027 at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England, where the top two teams by points percentage will contest the title.
