IND vs BAN: How can India secure their spot in WTC final after sweeping Bangladesh?

With this series win, India has boosted their chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final for the third time in a row

PHOTO: BCCI

Team India secured a dominant 7-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the second Test at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur, on Tuesday further solidifying their position at the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table.

On the final day, Bangladesh resumed their second innings at 26/2, hoping to set a competitive total. However, they collapsed dramatically, falling from 91/3 to 94/7, before being bowled out for 146. Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim was the lone fighter for Bangladesh, scoring a crucial 37 to push their total.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja each claimed three wickets, dismantling the Bangladesh batting lineup.

Chasing a modest target of 95 runs, India reached the goal in 18 overs, losing just three wickets. Despite early dismissals of captain Rohit Sharma (8) and Shubman Gill (6), young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal played a key role, hitting his second half-century of the match. His 51 runs ensured a comfortable victory for the hosts.

Earlier in the match, India had laid the groundwork for the win with an aggressive approach, declaring their first innings at 285/9 in under 35 overs. This attacking mindset helped them capitalize on day four, as no play had been possible on days two and three. India bowled out Bangladesh for 233 in their first innings.

India had also dominated the first Test in Chennai, winning by a massive 280-run margin.

With this series win, India has boosted their chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final for the third time in a row. They now sit comfortably at the top of the WTC points table with a 74.24% win percentage, far ahead of other teams.

India has won 8 out of their 11 matches in the ongoing WTC cycle and has 8 more games to play. Their next challenge will be a three-match Test series against New Zealand, followed by a five-match series in Australia. To secure their spot in the WTC final, India needs to win at least three of these remaining games.

The current qualification cutoff is set at 58.5%, meaning teams that do not face India or Australia will need to exceed 60% to qualify. If India fails to win three more Tests, they will rely on other teams' results to make it to the final.

India remains confident in continuing their winning momentum and reaching another WTC final.