India Strengthens Lead in World Test Championship Standings with Convincing Win Over England
India, two-time finalists, have fortified their lead in the World Test Championship standings with a decisive victory over England. The triumph, an innings and 64 runs in Dharamsala, earned them an additional 12 critical WTC points, raising their total to 74. Consequently, their point percentage has increased from 64.58 to 68.51.
India celebrates a significant 4-1 series victory, culminating in an outstanding performance in Dharamsala. #WTC25 | #INDvENG : https://t.co/0sc3mQ50r4 pic.twitter.com/9MU3qyrYSY
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India, led by Rohit Sharma, ascended to the top position last week after New Zealand’s loss to Australia in Wellington pushed them to second place. The Black Caps have a point percentage of 60, while their Trans-Tasman rivals, Australia, hold the third position with 59.09.
ICC World Test Championship Standings
England’s fourth consecutive defeat in India keeps them in the eighth place in the standings, with their point percentage dropping to 17.5 from 19.44.
After securing a series win with a remarkable comeback in the Ranchi Test, India dominated all three days of the fifth Test. England captain Ben Stokes chose to bat after winning the toss, a decision supported by his top-order, who added 100 for the loss of one wicket. However, Kuldeep Yadav’s (5/72) exceptional performance in the second session helped bowl England out for 218. R Ashwin also made a significant contribution with 4/51 in his 100th Test.
A century partnership between Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal led India’s response. Despite Jaiswal’s dismissal for 57, after becoming only the second Indian to score over 700 runs in a Test series, Rohit and Shubman Gill continued India’s momentum. Both batters scored a century each and added 171 runs for the second wicket.
Half-centuries from debutant Devdutt Padikkal (65) and Sarfaraz Khan (56), along with a resilient 49-run partnership between Kuldeep and Jasprit Bumrah, helped India finish at 477.
For England, Shoaib Bashir was the standout bowler with his 5/173. James Anderson finished at 2/60, and with the wicket of Kuldeep on the third morning, he became the first pacer ever to claim 700 Test wickets.
James Anderson adds another feather to his cap. https://t.co/NclpXwxcNa #WTC25 | #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/JV12NGobAB
With a lead of 259 runs, the hosts were comfortably ahead. India bowled out England for 195 in the second innings, led by Ashwin’s 36th Test five-wicket haul. Joe Root stood out with a resilient 84, as the rest of the line-up collapsed.
This marks India’s third consecutive series win over England at home.