After South Africa's WTC title win earlier this year, the new cycle of the World Test Championship is underway as the teams fight to claim the ultimate glory. 

India started their campaign decently, with two wins and a draw to their name during their tour to England. While India has been one of the most dominating red-ball sides, they still haven't won a WTC title.

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They suffered a setback as they crashed to their second series defeat in the span of 13 months against South Africa. After a 0-3 loss to New Zealand last November, a tame performance from India saw them crash 0-2 to South Africa.

We take a look at the WTC 2027 Final Qualification scenario for the Men in Blue.

Latest World Test Championship Points Table

India currently sits in fifth position at the World Test Championship points table.

India's Schedule and results for the World Test Championship 2025-27

India's series-levelling effort in England has ensured that they have started this cycle of the WTC on a good note. However, the wobble in the home series against South Africa have set them back significantly.

The England tour in the summer was one of India's biggest challenges during the 2025-27 cycle. India are currently sixth in the table, having won only four of their nine Test matches. 

How can India qualify for the WTC final 2027?

Matches remaining for India: 9 Tests 

India have to make sure they convincingly win the home series against Sri Lanka and Australia and then try and hold the Black Caps to a draw, which will mount pressure on the current league toppers like the Aussies, New Zealand and reigning WTC winners South Africa. 

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The journey to the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 final has officially begun. After South Africa lifted their first-ever WTC title in the 2023–25 cycle, attention now turns to the next two years of red-ball cricket as teams fight for a place in the next final.

The fourth edition of the WTC will run from June 2025 to mid-2027. Nine Test-playing nations are part of the race, including India, England, Australia, and Pakistan. 

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Each country will play six Test series throughout the competition cycle, three at home and three away. The battle promises to be even more intense as nations look to book early wins.

What is the format of the World Test Championship 2025-27?

The format for the 2025–27 WTC cycle follows the same model as the previous editions. A total of 27 Test series will be played across two years, with 71 matches in total. Each team will participate in six of these series, and every match counts toward the championship points.

Just like in the earlier cycles, two teams will make it to the final based on the percentage of points they collect across all their games. This ensures that not just the number of matches won, but consistency across the series also matters.

MORE: Which South African captains have won ICC titles?

World Test Championship 2023-25 points distribution

*Teams will be ranked according to the percentage of points won

*Teams will be docked one championship point for slow overrates.

MORE: What are the highest run-chases by South Africa in Tests?

Latest updated World Test Championship points table

World Test Championship's previous winners

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Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may finally don senior India jersey as the 15-year-old was picked for the England and Ireland T20Is as well as the 2026 Asian Games squad.

If Sooryavanshi earns a cap on the UK tour, he will make history as he will become the youngest player ever to represent India in international cricket, going past a record that has stood for decades, that of Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at 16 years and 207 days.

Sooryavanshi had already made an impact in his first IPL year before following it up with an even more dominant campaign, where he swept individual awards after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches. 

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar lavished praise on the youngster and said: "I think he has just picked himself, really. What do you say? We've seen what he can do. You saw even towards those playoffs, he almost single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals.

"For a young kid, I don't need to talk about how well he's batting or how well he's playing. And it's not just this season. He obviously had a great start last season, and to back it up, for a young kid in a competition that's as competitive and as high-pressure an environment as this, is special."

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Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents accompany him on England, Ireland tour?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has requested Sooryavanshi's parents to travel alongside him to the tours England and Ireland.

Sooryavanshi has been included in the India A squad, which is set to play three ODIs in Sri Lanka, and will also fly out to Ireland after being included in the senior T20I squad. 

“As he is a child, we have decided to allow his parents to accompany him to Ireland and England, so that they can be with him and help him settle in the new environment. The Board will cover all their expenses,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

“We will make a request to his parents. If they are willing to go, then they can go. In fact, his father is travelling to Sri Lanka tomorrow. That is our thinking. And after that, if his parents also wish to go to England, BCCI will support that because he is a kid."

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India squad for Ireland, England T20Is 2026

India schedule for Ireland, England T20Is 2026

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India is set to kick off a new phase of the T20I cricket format during their tours of Ireland and England as the nation gears up for an intense white ball series in 2026.

With fresh leadership and changes in squad composition being the major buzz surrounding the Indian team at present, the upcoming tour seems to be focused on bringing about a new regime and era in the team’s performance in the shortest form of the game.

In a major news update for the Indian side, Shreyas Iyer was announced as the captain of the country’s T20I team. This move by the selectors shows that they have opted for a different strategy and game plan for T20 cricket, focusing on a combination of both experienced and young players alike.

The series begins with Ireland before the team goes on to play against England for what promises to be a more difficult competition ahead.

Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to T20 World Cup win earlier this year, has lost his spot in the team. Test captain Shubman Gill also failed to make the cut.

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India T20I squad for Ireland, England series 2026

• Shreyas Iyer (captain)
• Tilak Varma (vice captain)
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Abhishek Sharma
• Nitish Kumar Reddy
• Mohammed Siraj
• Sanju Samson (wk)
• Axar Patel
• Harshit Rana
• Ishan Kishan (wk)
• Washington Sundar
• Arshdeep Singh
• Shivam Dube
• Varun Chakaravarthy
• Prince Yadav
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

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Schedule for India T20I series vs Ireland, England

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India will enter the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, as the reigning champions in men’s cricket after their gold medal win in the last edition of the event.

In light of the fact that the national team has a full international fixture schedule during this time period, the BCCI may opt to play with a squad consisting of both experienced players and new faces.

On Saturday, Indian selectors announced the squad for the Asian Games.

Cricket at the Asian Games will follow the T20 format this year.

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India squad for Asian Games 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, one of the teenage sensations of IPL 2026, is among the notable players in this list. Meanwhile, experienced players such as Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill have been excluded.

• Shreyas Iyer (captain)
• Tilak Varma (vice captain)
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Abhishek Sharma
• Nitish Kumar Reddy
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Sanju Samson (wk)
• Axar Patel
• Harshit Rana
• Ishan Kishan (wk)
• Washington Sundar
• Arshdeep Singh
• Shivam Dube
• Varun Chakaravarthy
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinion

India’s schedule at Asian Games 2026

The men’s cricket tournament at the Asian Games will be played in T20 format, running alongside India’s home series against the West Indies, which means the BCCI is likely to field two separate squads.

India’s overlapping commitments will force careful workload management across formats, particularly for all-format players.

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India will lock horns with Afghanistan in a one-off Test match at the New PCA Cricket Stadium in Mullan, New Chandigarh. 

The two sides have met only once in Test matches in the historic game in 2018, when Afghanistan made their debut as a Test nation. Back then, India had comfortably won the one-off game.  

India's performance in Test matches has been far from ideal under Gautam Gambhir's tutelage as they are yet to win a Test series against a major opponent. 

In fact, since Gambhir arrived as the head coach, India have lost two home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa and both were whitewashes. 

India have named a full-strength squad, led by captain Shubman Gill, although star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the Test match. 

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Live Scorecard

India vs Afghanistan Test: Win probability and toss result  

Toss: India captain won the toss and decided to bat first. It is hot and humid in Chandigarh. Manav Suthar earns his first India Test cap.

Day 2

India declare at 564/8: Shubman Gill called back Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav soon after, Sundar completed his half-century. India accelerated in the second session and scored 89 runs in 17 overs. Siraj chipped in with a 22-run innings from just 12 balls, which included four boundaries and a maximum. 

The Indian bowlers will have close to 10 overs to bowl before heading back for tea. 

After 110 overs, India are 475/6: Backs against the wall, Afghanistan has made a comeback in the Test match after taking three wickets in the morning session on Day 2. Two big fish, in Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, have been dismissed, whereas Dhruv Jurel went cheaply. Gill scored 129, and Pant missed out on another Test century after losing patience against Hasmat. 

Afghanistan took the new ball early in the day and made the most of the early morning moisture. There was lateral movement, and if they had shown more efficiency with the DRS, they could have got a couple of more wickets. 

Day 1

After 85 overs: India finishes the day on 368/3, with captain Shubman Gill batting on 103 and Rishabh Pant on 50.

Gill has completed his century at his home ground, while Pant returns to form with a fluent 50. The hosts have added another 119 runs in the final session, for no loss of wickets. It has been a productive day for India. Gill would look to add another 200 runs to the total before tea on day 2, before taking the ball. 

After 61 overs: India are on 249/3, with captain Shubman Gill batting on 39 and Rishabh Pant on 2.

KL Rahul brought up his 12th Test century in the 61st over, then fell on the very next ball. In demanding heat, a circumspect Rahul scored 100 in 164 balls, with the help of 11 fours. Even before the celebration had died down in the dressing room, he chipped the ball straight to extra cover off Zia-Ur Rahman. 

After 50 overs: At the end of second session, India are 209/2. KL Rahul is going strong at 81 from 137 balls. Sai Sudarshan was looking in good nick when he got a thick edge off Mohammad Saleem to wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai. The left-handed batter scored 81 in 104 balls.

After 36 overs: Going steady, India are on 153/1 after 36 overs. KL Rahul and Sai Sudarshan have both notched half-centuries.

After 25 overs: The teams break for lunch with India at 96/1 in 25 overs. KL Rahul is batting on 37, Sai Sudarshan on 32. The only wicket to fall in the first session was that of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who flicked the ball off Mohammad Saleem to wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai.

After 11 overs: India are 37-0. It was a narrow escape for KL Rahul, who survived a caught-behind appeal off Zia-ur Rahman in the 11th over. Afghanistan did not opt for DRS but, according to ultra-edge, there was a faint edge. Rahul is currently batting on 16, and Yashasvi Jaiswal is on 20 not out. 

India vs Afghanistan Test: Playing XI

India playing XI: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Afghanistan playing XI: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Zia-ur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem

India vs Afghanistan Test: Win percentage

India vs Afghanistan Test: Betting odds

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