India remain fifth in WTC 2025-27 points table after Sri Lanka draw as final hopes take a hit | Cricket News

India won the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0, but the draw in the second Test at the SSC Ground in Colombo on Thursday made their path to the 2027 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final tougher and cost them a chance to climb the table. 

Heading into the final day of the second Test in Colombo, India looked primed to claim maximum points after enforcing the follow-on on the back of a 213-run first-innings lead. However, Sri Lankan middle-order batter Sonal Dinusha produced a stubborn, match-saving masterclass.

Following up his first-innings 103, Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133 off 264 deliveries, steering the hosts to 429/9 before the match concluded in a draw.  

Under the WTC points distribution system, a win awards 12 points (100% PCT), while a draw yields only 4 points (33.33% PCT). By missing out on the full 24 points from the two-Test tour (having won in Galle by 165 runs), India walked away with 16 points, causing a downward tick in their overall PCT.  

Updated WTC 2025-27 Points Table After IND vs SL 2nd Test

Australia sit clear at the top after beating Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay. South Africa are second but have played only four matches. New Zealand are third. Bangladesh, despite that heavy loss to Australia, still hold fourth and sit just above India.

Had India converted the follow-on into a win, their PCT would have jumped to about 63.33% and they would have overtaken Bangladesh. Four points from a match they dominated barely moves the needle and slightly lowers the percentage because another result has been added to the denominator.

With table-toppers Australia (80.00%), defending champions South Africa (75.00%), and New Zealand (72.22%) maintaining high win rates, the threshold for qualifying in the top two remains high.  

Having played 11 matches in the cycle, Shubman Gill-led India now has very little margin for error in their upcoming assignments. India now have seven Tests left: two away to New Zealand and a five-Test home series against Australia. 

To push their PCT past the 60% threshold typically needed to contest the Lord’s final, they will need decisive series wins in their upcoming away fixtures against New Zealand and the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia at home.