How India can qualify for WTC final after draw in Brisbane Test
The Indian national cricket team managed to draw the third test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against the Australian national cricket team. The match between the two teams took place at the Gabba in Brisbane, which concluded on Wednesday (December 18).
The Indian national cricket team pulled a draw from nowhere and will head into the fourth Test on the back of the series at 1-1. The Rohit Sharma-led team was dominated by the Australian national cricket team in the first three days with bat and ball and it looked like they will end up facing defeat.
Australia took command on the first three days of the Test
The Australian National Cricket Team were asked to bat first and they had a fantastic outing with the bat. Riding on centuries from Travis Head (152) and Steve Smith (101), along with a half-century from Alex Carey (70), the Pat Cummins-led team posted a massive total of 445 runs.
In reply, the visitors looked terrible with the bat. They lost wickets in groups and were 74/5. That’s when KL Rahul (84) and Ravindra Jadeja (77) came together and led the rescue charge. But with around 30 runs still to avoid the follow-on, all the specialist batsmen were back in the hut.
India avoided the follow-on and the matches end in a draw
But Akash Deep (30) and Jasprit Bumrah (10*) put in a surprising effort with the bat and avoided the follow-on as their second innings ended on 260 for 185.
With a huge lead, Australia tried to play a brand of attacking cricket but failed miserably. Pacers of Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj were all over the batsmen as they picked wickets at regular intervals.
Skipper Pat Cummins (22) was best in the run-getting as Australia lost seven wickets for 89 runs before the hosts declared, setting a target of 275 runs to chase. India could bat for just 2.1 more before rain came and forced the umpires to call off the day, meaning the match ended in a draw.
How India can qualify for ICC World Test Championship Final
The Gabba Test draw has provided the Indian national cricket team with a great opportunity to qualify for the finals of the ICC World Test Championship. To reach the summit clash, the Rohit Sharma-led side will need to win their next two matches in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If that happens, it would guarantee them a direct qualification to the final.
If they manage to win just one of the remaining two matches, they will need a favor from Sri Lanka. The Rohit Sharma-led team would want the island nation to win a match against Australia, or the series between the teams should end in a draw.
But if the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy ends in a draw, the Indian national cricket team would want Sri Lanka to win by a margin of 1-0 or 2-0 in the series. The Rohit Sharma-led team cannot afford to lose both the matches. If it happens, they would want Pakistan to whitewash South Africa.
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