India become the first team to reach the final for the second time in a row of the World Test Championship, following New Zealand’s thrilling victory over Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Sunday.
India will take on Australia in the final for the title clash, which will be held at the Oval in London starting on 7 June. In the previous cycle, India went down to New Zealand in the WTC final.
Sri Lanka had a ray of hope to reach the final, but they needed to beat the Kiwis in both the Tests, and India has to draw or lose the ongoing Ahmedabad Test against Australia. The Test is heading towards a drab draw.
Kane Williamson’s heroic knock of 121 in a nervous situation short-circuited the Sri Lankans’ remaining hope to reach the final.
India’s journey for the second cycle of the WTC got underway with the 2021 Test series in England under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. India emerged victorious 2-1 in four Tests. The fifth Test could not be held due to the spread of Covid-19. But India lost the fifth Test played in 2022, and the series ended in a 2-2 draw.
After that, India overpowered New Zealand by 1-0 in the two match series. The first Test played in Kanpur ended in a draw, but Team India came back strongly and outplayed the Back Caps in the Mumbai Test.
India surpassed visiting Australia in the first two Tests of the ongoing four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy. Australia won the third and last Test is set to end in a draw.
India has a chance to lift the ICC trophy, which has eluded them since 2013. But beating Australia in English conditions is not a cakewalk for any team.