Cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, 24th of December finally announced the highly-anticipated schedule of the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy after months of scuffling between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) . Next year's mega event is set to kick off from the 19th of February onwards, with New Zealand and Pakistan clashing versus each other in the opening fixture and the all-important Final will be played on the 9th of March. 
The marquee ICC event will see a total of eight teams fighting it out against each other in 15 encounters across the span of 18 days. The competition will be held under the hybrid-model policy with Pakistan being the host for all teams except Team India and Dubai will be playing the role of the host for the Indian Cricket Team
<blockquote>
"The eight teams contesting for the coveted white triumphant jackets in the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT) are the same countries who finished the 2023 ODI World Cup in the top eight overall, according to the rankings. 2023 ODI World Cup champions Australia (AUS), South Africa (RSA), Afghanistan (AFG) and England (ENG) are a part of Group B of the competition, while reigning champions and hosts Pakistan (PAK) are in Group-A alongwith the likes of Bangladesh (BAN), Fierce-rivals India (IND) &amp; New Zealand (NZ) " the ICC announced.
</blockquote>

<h2>Why West Indies and Sri Lanka didn't get the chance to compete in the Champions Trophy?</h2>
A total of eight teams are allowed to compete in the Champions Trophy (CT) since 2009, split into two groups of four teams each. The teams which manage to finish in the top two spots of each group advance to the Semi-Final phase after each team plays one match verus the other three teams in their respective group. The winners of both the semi-finals then get the opportunity to lock horns versus each other in the all-important title-Deciding clash i.e the Final. 
West Indies and Sri Lanka are two big cricket playing nations that will not be seen playing in the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy (CT). Only eight teams are allowed to play in next year's mega event and these teams were decided on the basis of their final finishing spot in the overall standing of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. 
However, since the Sri Lankans ended the tournament at the ninth spot, they didn't get the chance to qualify for the Champions Trophy from the ODI World Cup while the Windies on the other hand didn't even qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup which directly eliminated them from the race of securing the Champions Trophy (CT) spots. 
Do Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-unveil-the-official-champions-trophy-2025-schedule-know-all-the-details-regarding-india-s-matches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ICC unveil the official Champions Trophy 2025 schedule, know all the details regarding India's matches</a>

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Asitha Fernando (R) of Sri Lanka expresses disappointment as Jason Mohammed (L) and Shai Hope (C) of West Indies run during the 3rd and final ODI match between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium | Image: Getty Images

The Champions Trophy 2025 schedule is out and the eight participating teams are confirmed too. However, two big teams Sri Lanka and West Indies are not gonna compete in the mega event of next year and we will be taking a look at the reason behind their exclusion from the tournament.

Why are West Indies and Sri Lanka not a part of Champions Trophy 2025? What's the reason behind their exclusion

why-are-west-indies-and-sri-lanka-not-a-part-of-champions-trophy-2025-what-s-the-reason-behind-their-exclusion

The Indian Cricket Team's 10-wicket defeat versus the Mighty Australians in the Adelaide Test-Match has hurt them in many ways. This defeat has not only made their chances of winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series difficult, but it has also hampered their chances of qualifying for the final of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The Men in Blue have now slipped to the third position in the overall standings of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 cycle
Talking about the WTC Points Table, the Proteas are sitting at the top of the Overall Standings with a good 63.33 PCT. Their recent 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka helped them to displace the Australians at the top of the table. The Aussies are at the 2nd spot with a 60.71 PCT next to their name. 
Additionally, Team India were the table toppers, but their embarrassing 10-wicket defeat in the Adelaide Test-Match has changed everything in a single go.
<h1></h1>
<h1>One more defeat will end India's hopes of qualifying for their third-successive WTC Final</h1>

The currently ongoing five-match Test-Series (BGT) between India and Australia is currently level at 1-1. Three more matches are left to be played in the series and if the Men in Blue end up on the losing side even in one single contest, then their hopes of qualifying for a successive WTC Final will come to an end. 
If the Rohit Sharma-led team draws one match and secures victories in the other two contests, then their hopes will remain alive. However, to cement their spot in the Final of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, they will have end up on the winning side in all of the remaining three BGT Test-Matches. 

<h1>What are the qualification equations for Rohit Sharma &amp; CO? </h1>

If the Rohit Sharma-led team defeats the Mighty Australians by a margin of 3-2, then they will remain in the top two of the overall standings.
Following the end of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Pat Cummins and his men will be travelling to Sri Lanka to take part in a two-match Test-Series. It will not be easy for the Aussies to secure a victory in the spin-friendly conditions of the island nation. 
South Africa on the other hand are slated to square off versus Pakistan in a home two-match Test-Series. They are anticipated to secure a victory in that series. In such a scenario, the race to reach the all-important title-deciding WTC Final clash between South Africa, India &amp; Australia has heated up and it has become very exciting.

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/India-vs-Australia:-ICC-responded-with-strict-actions-to-the-verbal-misconduct-between-Travis-Head-and-Mohammed-Siraj-in-Adelaide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India vs Australia: ICC responded with strict actions to the verbal misconduct between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj in Adelaide</a>

Senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma walk back after India's loss in Adelaide | Image: Associated Press

WTC Final Scenario: After suffering a 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide, the path to reach the final of the World Test Championship has become very difficult for India. They have to win the series versus fierce-rivals Australia at any cost if they want to have any chances of making it to their third consecutive WTC Final. In this article, we will be taking a look at Indian's WTC Final qualification scenarios

Has India's defeat in the Adelaide Test shattered their dream of qualifying for the WTC Final? Know their Qualification-Scenario

has-indias-defeat-in-the-adelaide-test-shattered-their-dream-of-qualifying-for-the-wtc-final-know-their-qualification-scenario

Temba Bavuma-led South Africa completed a successful 2-0 series whitewash versus Sri Lanka at home and this series victory has given them a major boost in their hopes of qualifying for the final of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. 
The recent win of the Proteas over the Sri Lankans has seen them displace defending-champions Australia from the 1st position of the overall standings as the Temba Bavuma-led team now have a PCT of 63.33 next to their name following their sixth Test victory our of 10 contests. The Kangaroos on the other hand have dropped down to the 2nd place with a PCT of 60.71.
Two-time runners-up of WTC, the Indian Cricket Team are at the third spot with a PCT of 57.29 following their recent defeat in the Adelaide Test-Match versus the Mighty Australians three days ago. 
Dhananjaya de Silva-led Sri Lanka's series defeat versus the Proteas has made things difficult for them in terms of securing a spot in the WTC Final but they are still alive in the race to qualify for the title-deciding clash slated to be played at the Lord's Cricket Stadium from the 11th of June of 2025. The Sri Lankans are still positioned at the fourth place and their PCT has reduced to 45.45.
<table style="width: 642px; height: 200px;">
<thead>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Position">Pos</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Team">Team</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Matches Played">Matches</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Matches Won">Won</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Matches Lost">Lost</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Matches Drawn">Drawn</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Matches Abandonded">NR</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Total Points">Points</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;" title="Percentage of Points">PCT</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">South Africa</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">10</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">76</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">63.330</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">Australia</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">14</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">102</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">60.710</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">3</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">India</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">16</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">110</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">57.290</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">Sri Lanka</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">5</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">60</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">45.450</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">5</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">England</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">21</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">1</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">114</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">45.240</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">New Zealand</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">13</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">69</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">44.230</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">Pakistan</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">10</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">6</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">40</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">33.330</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">8</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">Bangladesh</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">12</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">4</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">8</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">45</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">31.250</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 42.2292px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 132.656px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">West Indies</td>
<td style="width: 91.5208px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 51.0521px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 46.5417px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">7</td>
<td style="width: 71.2917px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">2</td>
<td style="width: 37.1979px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">0</td>
<td style="width: 67.4271px; text-align: center; height: 20px;">32</td>
<td style="width: 77.4167px; height: 20px; text-align: center;">24.240</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
 The 5th day of the 2nd Test-Match between Sri Lanka and the South Africans started off with the visitors having the advantage. Dhananjaya de Silva &amp; CO needed a total of 143 runs to save the series while the home team needed five-wickets to seal the whitewash. However, set batters Dhananjaya de Silva (50 runs) and wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis (46 runs) put their team in an advantageous situation and pushed the Proteas on the backfoot. 
However, South Africa's elite slow-left-arm-orthodox spinner Keshav Maharaj had some other plans and he single handedly executed the comeback for his team as his fifer helped the hosts to inflict an all out on the Sri Lankans for a score of 238 runs and they secured a victory in the 2nd contest by a margin of 109 runs. 
The Proteas had also secured a comfortable victory in the opening contest of the series by a margin of 233 runs which also witnessed the Sri Lankans getting bundled out for an embarrassing score of 42 runs in their 1st inning. 
Temba Bavuma and his men will now be taking part in a two-match Home Test-Series versus Pakistan and they will be looking to seal yet another comfortable series win. That series will kick off from the 26th of December in the city of Centurion The Sri Lankans on the other hand will host the Mighty Australians in January of next year for a home two-match Test-Series.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/More-problems-for-India-Australia-set-to-be-boosted-by%E2%80%A6./" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More problems for India! Australia set to be boosted by….</a>

South African team celebrating their win vs Sri Lanka | Image: Getty Images

South Africa displaces Australia at the top of the WTC Standings following their win vs Sri Lanka | Updated WTC Points Table

south-africa-displaces-australia-at-the-top-of-the-wtc-standings-following-their-win-vs-sri-lanka-updated-wtc-points-table

The WTC standings saw a major change in the rankings after the dramatic Adelaide win of Australia over the visitors, India, who didn’t seem very confident facing the pink ball, as even their skipper admitted to not having batted well. 
 
On the other hand, a simultaneous series held between South Africa and visitors Sri Lanka is at its all-time high, with the Proteas looking strong to make another major shift in the points table with a win in the ongoing second test at Gqeberha. 
 
With teams like England, Pakistan, and New Zealand ruled out of contention for any further chances for qualification despite all-win situations, only the top four teams are left with scanty to large chances for qualification. 
 
<h2 dir="ltr">Let’s take a good look at the WTC final qualification scenarios for the franchises: </h2>
 
<h3 dir="ltr">India </h3>
 <img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_67564b947a9fd.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="468">
The table toppers for the last three editions of the WTC have slipped down to the lowest ever in their WTC history. India has never left the top two spots since 2019 when the first WTC cycle began; however, after the pink-ball test loss, they now stand at an all-time low at the no. 3 position behind the Aussies and Proteas. 
 
India is left with 3 matches in the WTC campaign, which will be played against Australia in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border%E2%80%93Gavaskar_Trophy">Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>, and now the Indian side needs to manage 2 wins and a draw to make their way through to the finals. 
 
No. of wins needed from remaining matches: 2 wins and a draw
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Australia </h3>
 
The current table toppers also do not look very firm at the top, as South Africa, with a dominating victory, can take the position of the table toppers as a fight ensues for the two final spots in the WTC. 
 
However, as of now, for the defending champions and to the joy of Pat Cummins, Australia needs to win only 3 of their remaining test matches, which are scheduled in this WTC. 
 
3 matches to be played in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India
2 matches to be played against Sri Lanka
 
With a three-match home advantage, the Australians can fancy their chances to win at least 2 games and retain themselves at the top, as any further wins for India already eradicate their qualification chances, which makes the Aussies the second favorite. 
 <img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_67564bb6bbf00.jpg" alt="" width="743" height="462">
<h3 dir="ltr">South Africa </h3>
 
The Proteas have always been drafted as one of the greatest teams to have played the longest format of the game; however, their record has never been great since the WTC began. 
 
This time around, however, Temba Bavuma has turned the tables for the Proteas, as they are the likely team to fancy their chances most in the WTC final, playing all their remaining tests at home. 
 
South Africa will play their last match against Sri Lanka with a decider awaited today, while their next two matches come under home conditions against Pakistan, a not-so-confident side this WTC. 
 
With a 2-win situation in the remaining games at home, South Africa currently looks like the most dominant side for one of the spots in the WTC final. 
 
<h3 dir="ltr">Sri Lanka </h3>
 
The Lankans are undoubtedly one of the teams in the WTC that have posed a major threat to many teams like New Zealand and England under both home and away conditions. 
 
With still slim chances of a win remaining against the Proteas in the second test, they can turn the tables to their end and play their remaining home tests against Australia with huge confidence. 
 
Sri Lanka has a stunning home record this WTC, and hence they impose a serious threat to the Aussies, as Sri Lanka is in an all-win situation to make their WTC chances assured for the first time. 
 
The likes of England, Pakistan, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Bangladesh have been officially knocked off any further chances for qualification into the WTC finals of 2023/25 to be played at The Lord’s.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/Massive-shift-in-WTC-Standings-after-Australia-crush-India-at-the-Adelaide-Oval-in-the-Pink-Ball-Test/">Massive Shift in WTC standings post Australia's historic Adelaide win </a>

WTC final scenarios : Strong fight between India, Australia, and South Africa for the two final spots

The major changes caused in the WTC standings post India's Adelaide loss have created a stir between India, Australia, and South Africa as they ensure an intense battle in the quest for the two WTC final spots.

WTC final scenarios after massive changes caused in the WTC standings; strong fight between India, Australia, and South Africa for the two final spots

WTC-final-scenarios-after-massive-changes-caused-in-the-WTC-standings-strong-fight-between-India,-Australia,-and-South-Africa-for-the-two-final-spots

SL vs NZ ODI Series: Sri Lanka bags the third consecutive ODI series win after the last ODI of a three-match series against New Zealand, which was called off due to rain in Pallekele International Stadium. 



<div class="wp-block-rank-math-toc-block" id="rank-math-toc"><nav><ul><li class=""><a href="#sl-vs-nz-odi-series-summary">SL vs NZ ODI Series Summary</a></li><li class=""><a href="#sl-vs-nz-3rd-odi-highlights">SL vs NZ 3rd ODI Highlights</a></li></ul></nav></div>



 Sri Lanka Cricket Team is becoming the home giants under the head coach Sanath Jayasuriya. They first defeated India 2-0 in August, then they hosted West Indies and defeated them 2-1 in the T20I series and also in the ODI series by 2-1. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/08/sl-VS-ind-SERIES.jpg" alt="IND vs SL 3rd ODI: Historic! Fernando-Mendis-Wellalage Trio Thrived as Sri Lanka defeated India by 110 Runs" class="wp-image-145341" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Historic! Wellalage's fifer helped Sri Lanka to sum up India (Associate Press)</figcaption></figure>



New Zealand's entire tour of Sri Lanka was a failure in itself. They could just win a T20I game and lose everything else. Sri Lanka are coming out as a strong home team in the Jayasuriya's era and it is time for them to dominated overseas as well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="sl-vs-nz-odi-series-summary">SL vs NZ ODI Series Summary</h2>



It was New Zealand's turn to visit Sri Lanka and they leveled the T20I series 1-1 in the first hand. Then, in the ODI series, Sri Lanka posed an unmatchable challenge against New Zealand in the first 2 ODIs and also came victorious. The last ODI, played on 19 November, the rain interrupted and only a 21-over game was played before the rain and officials had to call off the game. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="sl-vs-nz-3rd-odi-highlights">SL vs NZ 3rd ODI Highlights</h2>



Having already conceded the series after losses in the first two matches, New Zealand chose to bat first after winning the toss. The team started brightly, with Tim Robinson striking boundaries off Dilshan Madhushanka in the opening over. However, their momentum was cut short when Robinson, attempting a drive in the fourth over, mistimed his shot to mid-off, handing Mohamed Shiraz his maiden ODI wicket.



Despite the early setback, Will Young steadied the innings with a composed approach. He capitalized on loose deliveries, punishing both Shiraz and Chamindu Wickramasinghe with consecutive boundaries in successive overs. His confident stroke play kept the scoring rate steady, putting pressure back on the Sri Lankan bowlers.



Meanwhile, Henry Nicholls complemented Young by employing sweeps and laps to accumulate runs effectively. The duo maintained a solid rhythm, rotating the strike efficiently and building an unbeaten 88-run partnership that anchored New Zealand's innings.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/11/391258-1.jpg" alt="SL VS NZ ODI SERIES" class="wp-image-149609" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SL vs NZ: Will Young (Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



Young reached his eighth ODI half-century shortly before rain interrupted play, ending New Zealand's hopes of a comeback in the series. With the match unable to resume, Sri Lanka secured a convincing 2-0 victory in the three-match SL vs NZ ODI series.



New Zealand wrapped up their subcontinent tour with mixed results. They began with a 2-0 loss in the Test series against Sri Lanka a few months ago but made an incredible comeback by whitewashing India 3-0 in India?a historic achievement in challenging conditions. Following that, they returned to Sri Lanka and shared the honors in the T20I series, which ended 1-1.



However, their performance dipped in the ODI series, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat against the hosts. Despite the setbacks, their emphatic Test series win over India will remain a significant highlight of the tour. The team now heads back to New Zealand to prepare for an upcoming three-match Test series against England, scheduled to start later this month.



Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will travel to South Africa for a two-match Test series. This series is set to commence at the end of November, marking an important challenge for the team as they aim to build on their recent performances and an eye on the WTC Points Table.



READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/top-5-most-expensive-indian-fast-bowlers-in-the-ipl-auction-2025-prediction/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/top-5-most-expensive-indian-fast-bowlers-in-the-ipl-auction-2025-prediction/">TOP 5 Most Expensive Indian Fast Bowlers in the IPL Auction 2025 Prediction</a>



SOURCE- <a href="https://srilankacricket.lk/" data-type="link" data-id="https://srilankacricket.lk/">SL CRICKET OFFICIAL</a>

SL vs NZ ODI Series: Sri Lanka Bags The ODI series after Rain Washes Out the 3rd ODI

sl-vs-nz-odi-series-sri-lanka-bags-the-odi-series-after-rain-washes-out-the-3rd-odi

In the 12th match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, 2024, India Women and Sri Lanka Women faced each other at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. In this match, Indian Women defeated Sri Lanka Women by 90 runs and earned two points. With this win, the run-rate of the Indian team improved. In this article check the current Points Table of ICC Women's T20 World Cup, 2024.



GROUP A



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Teams</th><th>P</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>D</th><th>PTS</th><th>NRR</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Australia Women</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>2.524</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>India Women</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>0.576</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Pakistan Women</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0.555</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>New Zealand Women</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>-0.050</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Sri Lanka Women</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>-2.564</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



GROUP B



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Teams</th><th>P</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>D</th><th>PTS</th><th>NRR</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>South Africa Women</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>1.527</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>England Women</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>0.653</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>West Indies Women</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1.154</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bangladesh Women</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>-0.125</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Scotland Women</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>-2.671</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit:<a href="https://www.sportskeeda.com/go/icc-womens-world-twenty20/points-table" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.sportskeeda.com/go/icc-womens-world-twenty20/points-table"> SportsKeeda</a></figcaption></figure>



At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 172 runs for the loss of just one wicket in 20 overs. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana shared a 98-run partnership for the first wicket. Shafali scored 43 runs in 40 balls while Mandhana scored a half-century in just 38 balls, unfortunately she was run out.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/10/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-09-at-23.37.16_1717ca73-768x1024.jpg" alt="India Women Climbs at Second Position in Points Table of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024" class="wp-image-148328" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harmanpreet Kaur | Pic: X (Jay Shah)</figcaption></figure>



Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played an unbeaten innings of 52 runs in just 27 balls, during this fiery innings she hit eight fours and one six.



While chasing the target, Sri Lanka Women were all-out for just 90 runs in 19.5 overs. The Sri Lankan Women's team lost three wickets for just six runs, after which the team did not get a chance to make a comeback. This is the third consecutive defeat of Sri Lankan Women in this tournament, after which they have been eliminated from the tournament.



In the bowling department, from Indian women's side Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana both got three wickets, Renuka Thakur Singh got two, while Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma got one wicket each.



Indian Women's last match in the group stage is against Australia Women, Harmanpreet Kaur and company will have to win this match at any cost to ensure qualification in the semi-finals. Australia Women remains at the top of the points table with an impressive run-rate of 2.524.



CHECK: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/joe-root-surpasses-alastair-cook-to-become-leading-run-getter-for-england-in-test-cricket/#google_vignette" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/joe-root-surpasses-alastair-cook-to-become-leading-run-getter-for-england-in-test-cricket/#google_vignette">Joe Root surpasses Alastair Cook to Become Leading Run-Getter for England in Test-Cricket</a>

India Women Climbs at Second Position in Points Table of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024

india-women-climbs-at-second-position-in-points-table-of-icc-womens-t20-world-cup-2024

The forthcoming fifth-encounter of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup promises a fascinating clash between reigning champions Australia and Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah. Both teams would be keen to get off to a winning-start in this important group-stage game, setting the stage for an entertaining contest.



Sri Lanka, under the captaincy of Chamari Atapattu, head into this contest after suffering a defeat by 32 runs in their opening fixture versus Pakistan. Despite getting off to a Rocky start in the tournament, the Sri Lankans remain determined and remain mindful of the importance of securing a win versus the Mighty Australians.



A win against the six time-winners would not only keep Sri Lanka's hopes of qualifying for the knockout-rounds alive but will also provide them a huge confidence boost as they start their quest of making their way through a difficult-group filled with competitive rivals.



The Aussies on the other hand, will be kicking off their 2024 Women's T20 World Cup campaign in this match and they would be desperate to start their title-defence on a positive-note.



The reigning-champions have a balanced squad at their disposal, consisting of promising youngsters and experienced campaigners, making them a formidable force on the field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Weather-Report of the Australia versus Sri Lanka match</h2>



The weather of the city of Sharjah during the match-hours is anticipated to be warm and rainfree. The chances of rainfall interrupting with the match are quite low.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Pitch-Report of the Australia versus Sri Lanka match</h2>



The surface of the Sharjah Cricket Ground is anticipated to be a challenging one to bat on. The slowish-nature of the pitch will make it difficult for the batters to play their strokes freely.



The spinners will play an important role in determining the result of the match. Considering that it's a day-match, it's expected that the wicket will slow down even more during the second-inning, adding another degree of intricacy to the game.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Australia versus Sri Lanka live-streaming details</h2>



The 2024 Women's T20 World Cup fixture between Australia &amp; Sri Lanka will be telecasted live on the Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD channels. The match will also get broadcasted on the Disney + Hotstar website and application.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Australia versus Sri Lanka H2H record</h2>



The women's teams of Australia and Sri Lanka have a total of seven matches against each other in the shortest format of the game and all seven of these matches have been won by the Mighty Australians. Sri Lanka are yet to open their winning account versus the Aussies.



Australia Women won - 7 Sri Lanka Women won - 0



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/womens-t20-world-cup-2024-indias-full-schedule-live-streaming-details-squad-and-more/">Women?s T20 World Cup 2024: India?s full schedule, live-streaming details, squad and more.</a>



For more information, visit the official websites of <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/womens-t20-worldcup/matches/244936/australia-women-vs-sri-lanka-women">ICC</a>, <a href="https://www.cricket.com.au/matches/CA:20138/australia-women-sri-lanka-women-icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-2024">Australia Cricket </a>and <a href="https://srilankacricket.lk/sri-lanka-women/">Sri Lanka Cricket. </a>

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: H2H Record, Pitch Report, Live-streaming details and more of Australia vs Sri Lanka

womens-t20-world-cup-2024-h2h-record-pitch-report-live-streaming-details-and-more-of-australia-vs-sri-lanka

The second match of the ongoing two-match Test series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will be played on Thursday at the Galle International Stadium in Galle. For this match, the expected playing 11 of both the teams and live streaming details in India will be available for viewing.



Talking about the standings of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, Sri Lanka is in third position while New Zealand is in fourth place. Sri Lanka has played a total of 8 matches in which they have won four and lost four matches and have 48 points, while New Zealand has 36 points after winning three matches in 7 matches. The Indian team is leading the standings with 86 points.



In the first match played between Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Sri Lanka won the match by 63 runs. Sri Lanka scored 305 and 309 runs in the first innings whereas New Zealand could only score 340 runs in the first innings and 211 runs in the second innings.



From Sri Lanka's side, Kamindu Mendis scored a century of 114 runs in 173 balls in the first innings. In the second innings, opener Dimuth Karunaratne scored 83 runs. From New Zealand's side, Tom Latham scored the highest 70 runs in the first innings and Rachin Ravindra scored 92 runs in the second innings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SL vs NZ 2nd Test: Match Details</h2>



Tournament: New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka, 2024



Match: SL vs NZ, 2nd Test



Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024 - Monday, September 30, 2024



Time: 10:00 AM (Sep 26)



Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SL vs NZ 2nd Test: Expected Playing 11</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-25-155214.png" alt="SL vs NZ 2nd Test 2024: Playing XI, Match Details, and Live Streaming in India" class="wp-image-147734" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sri Lanka vs New Zeland</figcaption></figure>



SRI LANKA



Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth?Karunaratne



NEW ZEALAND



Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tom Blundell (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Devon Conway, Tom Latham and William?O'Rourke



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Where is the 2nd Test between SL vs NZ?</h2>



Sri Lanka and New Zealand's second Test match will be held at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What time does the SL vs NZ 2nd Test start?</h2>



The Second Test in Galle will begin action on September 26, 2024, at 10:00 AM IST.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to watch SL vs NZ 2nd Test from India?</h2>



On the Sony Sports Network, Indian fans can watch live action from the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Live streaming will be available on the Fancode app and website.



CHECK: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-eng-pakistan-announce-their-squad-for-the-1st-test-vs-england/">Pakistan announce their squad for the 1st test vs England</a>



For More, Visit Official Site of <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/">ICC</a>

SL vs NZ 2nd Test 2024: Playing XI, Match Details, and Live Streaming in India

sl-vs-nz-2nd-test-2024-playing-xi-match-details-and-live-streaming-in-india

Sri Lanka, under the leadership of Dhananjaya De Silva, secured a remarkable victory over New Zealand, winning by a margin of 63 runs in the 1st test on Monday.



Having elected to bat first, the home side put up a score of 305 runs on the board in their first inning, only to let the Kiwis get a small lead of 35 runs.



The Dhananjaya De Silva-led team managed to score 309 runs in their second inning, with the trio of Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews scoring half-centuries.



The Kiwis had to chase down 274 runs in order to go ahead in the two-match test series but they found themselves struggling at a score of 96-6.



Kane Williamson (30 runs in 46 deliveries) and Tom Latham (28 runs in 68 balls) got off to good starts but they weren't able to convert their starts into big knocks.



Rachin Ravindra (92 runs in 168 balls) played a fighting knock and kept hold of one end but he didn't receive any kind of support from the other players as wickets kept falling regularly at the other-end.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/09/387914.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-147620" style="width:600px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rachin Ravindra (left) and Prabath Jayasuriya (right) shake hands after Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand in the first test match at Galle | Image: Getty Images </figcaption></figure>



The Tim Southee-led team needed 68 runs with just two-wickets in-hand on Monday, however, much to the dismay of the New Zealand fans, Sri Lankan left arm orthodox spinner Prabath Jayasuriya accounted for both the wickets of William O Rourke (0 runs in 6 balls) and Rachin and allowed his side win by 63 runs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WTC Points-Table: Sri Lanka overtake New Zealand to move to the third position</h2>



Following their win over New Zealand, the PCT of Sri Lanka has increased to 50 and they have 48 points next to their name in eight test-matches.



They have won on four occasions and have lost the same number of matches as well in the ongoing cycle of the WTC, and they are behind Australia and India in the overall standings currently.



They were sitting at the fourth position before the first India vs Bangladesh test-match where the Tigers lost against the Men in Blue, and now the island nation?s team have moved up by one spot to the third place in the overall-standings.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Teams</td><td>Matches</td><td>Wins</td><td>Losses</td><td>Draw</td><td>Points</td><td>PCT</td></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">India</td><td>10</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>86</td><td>71.67</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Australia</td><td>12</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>90</td><td>62.50</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Sri Lanka</td><td>8</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>48</td><td>50.00</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">New Zealand</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>36</td><td>42.85</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">England</td><td>16</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>81</td><td>42.19</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Bangladesh</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>33</td><td>39.29</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">South Africa</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>28</td><td>38.89</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Pakistan</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>16</td><td>19.05</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">West Indies</td><td>9</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>20</td><td>18.52</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The Black Caps, on the other hand, have dropped to the fourth position with a PCT of 42.85. They have won three games and have suffered defeats in four encounters as well.



The second &amp; final match of the two-match test series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be played from the 26th of September onwards at Galle International Cricket Ground.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ravi-ashwin-surpasses-courtney-walsh-and-becomes-the-8th-highest-wicket-taker-in-test-cricket/amp/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ravi-ashwin-surpasses-courtney-walsh-and-becomes-the-8th-highest-wicket-taker-in-test-cricket/amp/">Ravi Ashwin surpasses Courtney Walsh and becomes the 8th-highest Wicket-Taker in Test Cricket</a>



For more information, visit the official websites of <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/news/chennai-win-helps-india-s-wtc-push-as-sri-lanka-make-move-in-galle">ICC</a>, <a href="https://srilankacricket.lk/all-news/" data-type="link" data-id="https://srilankacricket.lk/all-news/">Sri Lanka Cricket</a> and <a href="https://www.nzc.nz/cricketnation" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.nzc.nz/cricketnation">New Zealand Cricket</a>

Updated WTC Points Table after Sri Lanka's win over New Zealand in the 1st Test

updated-wtc-points-table-after-sri-lankas-win-over-new-zealand-in-the-1st-test

ACC unveils the schedule of 2024 ACC Mens T20 Emerging Asia Cup: The Cricket Organization of Asia, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has unveiled the confirmed schedule and fixture list of the upcoming 2024 ACC Men's T20 International Emerging-Teams Asia Cup which is slated to be played in Oman.



A total of eight teams will participate in the competition's sixth-edition, including the likes of India A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A, Oman, Hong Kong, Pakistan A, UAE and Bangladesh A.



Last year, the previous edition of the tournament was played in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan A ended up lifting the trophy after winning against India A in the final.



Alongwith Asian Cricket Council?s five ?A? teams, top three-teams of the ACC Men?s Premier-Cup 2024 will be participating in this year's Emerging-Teams Asia Cup.



Notably, UAE emerged victorious in the trophy-summit clash of the ACC Premier-Cup 2024 by defeating Oman.



In the same way, Hong Kong won versus Nepal in the third-position Play-off to qualify for the upcoming tournament scheduled to be played in Oman.



For the forthcoming tournament, all the participating teams have been divided into groups of two, with Group A consisting of Bangladesh A, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A.



On the other hand, Group B, consists of Oman, India A, the UAE and Pakistan A.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/09/364616.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-147447" style="width:551px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">India vs Pakistan Emerging Men's Asia Cup 2023 | Image: Sri Lanka Cricket </figcaption></figure>



The highly awaited India A vs Pakistan A contest will be played on the 19th of October. Top two-teams from each group will move to the semi-finals of the tournament.



Furthermore, Pakistan will be looking to execute a hat-trick of trophy wins after winning the tournament in the previous two editions.



India A, on the other hand, won the maiden season of the competition in 2013, but they have not lifted the Emerging-Teams Asia Cup trophy since then.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024 ACC Men's T20 International Emerging-Teams Asia Cup: Groups</h2>



Group A: Hong Kong, Afghanistan A, Sri Lanka A and Bangladesh A



Group B: UAE, India A, Oman and Pakistan A



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024 ACC Men's T20 International Emerging-Teams Asia Cup Schedule:</h2>



October 18: Hong Kong vs Bangladesh A



October 18: Sri Lanka A vs Afghanistan A



October 19: Oman vs UAE



October 19: India A vs Pakistan A



October 20: Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka A



October 20: Afghanistan A vs Bangladesh A



October 21: Oman vs Pakistan A



October 21: India A vs UAE



October 22: Hong Kong vs Afghanistan A



October 22: Bangladesh A vs Sri Lanka A



October 23: UAE vs Pakistan A



October 23: Oman vs India A



October 25: First Semi-Final



October 25: Second Semi-Final



October 27: Final



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/eng-vs-aus-2nd-odi-preview-h2h-record-live-streaming-details-and-more/">ENG vs AUS 2nd ODI: Preview, H2H Record, Live Streaming details and more</a>



Fore more information, visit the websites of <a href="https://www.asiancricket.org/news">Asian Cricket Council </a>and <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/">ICC</a>

ACC unveils the schedule of 2024 ACC Mens T20 Emerging Asia Cup

acc-unveils-the-schedule-of-2024-acc-mens-t20-emerging-asia-cup

The Sri Lanka national men's cricket team, nicknamed The Lions, represents Sri Lanka in men's international cricket. It is a Full Member of the International Cricket Council with Test, One-Day International and T20 International status.

Sri Lanka

The 5th &amp; Final Test-Match in Sydney between Fierce-Rivals Australia and India ended today and the home team secured an easy six-wicket win and this win allowed them to secure the series by 3-1.This win of the Aussies has also made some significant changes in the overall standings of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. 
Talking about the contest, the Jasprit Bumrah-led team were at 124-4 in their 2nd inning and they were looking set to set a big target for the Pat Cummins-led team. However, the Australian bowlers were in deadly mood as their perfect bowling display led to Team India suffering a batting collapse and they lost wickets in quick succession and eventually got bundled out for a mere score of 157 runs. 
Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant fought the lone warrior's battle as he played an impressive inning of 61 runs in just 33 deliveries but he didn't get any kind of support from his fellow batters at the other end and the Kangaroos took full advantage of this and eventually the game turned in the favour of the Defending Champions. 
For the Australian team, Scott Boland took 6 wickets while giving away 45 runs while skipper Pat Cummins also played a good hand with figures of 3-44 next to his name. 
The Aussies were given a target of 162 runs to win the Sydney Test-Match but they lost wickets unnecessarily as Sam Konstas (22 runs in 17 deliveries), Marnus Labuschagne (6 runs in 20 deliveries), and Steve Smith (4 runs in 9 balls) went back to the pavilion cheaply, leaving the Australian team suddenly in a dire position of 58/3.
Next, opening batter Usman Khawaja played a good knock of 41 runs in 45 deliveries which allowed his team to initiate a comeback in the contest. If Bumrah wouldn't have got injured, then Khawaja wouldn't even get the chance to go past the 10 runs mark. 
Without the availability of Bumrah, the Aussie batters started to play their shots freely and theu began creating a lot of pressure on the Indian bowling unit. While Prasidh Krishna did his best to help his team stay alive in the contest, he began to falter and this worked in the favour of the Australians. 
As a result, the duo of Beau Webster &amp; Travis Head got involved in a strong partnership for thethe fifth wicket and added 58 runs in just 53 balls and this turned out to be winning factor. They helped their team reach a score of 162-4 and the Kangaroos won the encounter by a margin of six wickets.
<h2>WTC Final Chance:</h2>
Pat Cummins-led Aussies have successfully qualified for the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) Final after securing the BGT series 3-1. Temba Bavuma-led South Africa have already secured their tickets for the Final after defeating Pakistan in the first Test-Match. 
Keeping the statistics in mind, Team India have failed to qualify for the WTC Final for the first time since 2021. They are ranked third in the overall Standings with a PCT of 50. South Africa are the table toppers with a PCT of 66.67 while the Kangaroos are ranked 2nd with 63.73 PCT next to their name. They are followed by the likes of New Zealand (48.21) and Sri Lanka (45.45) respectively.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-pakistan-will-the-two-rivals-play-a-test-match-versus-each-other-this-english-legend-wants-them-to-play-in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India vs Pakistan: Will the two rivals play a test match versus each other? This English legend wants them to play in</a>

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma couldn't really have a say in the way things panned out in the Sydney Test-Match| Image: Getty Images

Can Team India still qualify for the WTC Final after suffering an embarrassing defeat in the Sydney Test-Match Or have they been eliminated completely?

Team India lost the Sydney Test Match, do they have any chances of qualifying for the WTC Final? Explained!

team-india-lost-the-sydney-test-match-do-they-have-any-chances-of-qualifying-for-the-wtc-final-explained-

Day 3 of the fifth and final test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground ended India's one-and-a-half-month-long tour of Australia. With that, Australia also ended their long wait to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and won it with a margin of 3-1.
Apart from the first test, Australia dominated India throughout the series, including the third day at SCG. As a result, the Australian crowd was also animated and tried to put pressure on Team India. But Virat Kohli, who is known for his passionate persona, came up with his own way to answer.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli mocks Australian crowd with "Sandpapar" gesture on Day 3</h2>
The Australian crowd has a history of involvement with visiting teams time and time again, and this BGT 2024-25 was not new. There were many instances during the series when they targeted Indian players. Especially when it comes to Virat Kohli, the Australian crowd often welcomes him or reacts to his actions with boos. But Virat has always been the approach of giving it back.
Something similar happened on Sunday as well. Notably, Virat was the stand-in captain in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Responding to Australian crowds, Virat gestures with his "empty pocket." This incident happened just when Steve Smith got out on Day 3. Smith was part of the infamous "Sandpapergate" incident during a Cape Town test against South Africa in 2018.
Australia used sandpaper in order to tamper with the cricket ball to get more reverse swing from the ball. Unfortunately for them, it was caught on camera, and players involved in it, Smith, along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, faced bans. As a result, Virat was seen doing the "sandpapar" gesture after Smith's wickets to provoke the Australian fans.
As soon as it happened, the video of the incident went viral, and everyone was talking about it on social media. Speaking of the game, India started Day 3 at 142/6 and were bowled out for 157 runs, setting a target of 161 to win. Australia reached the target with six wickets in hand and registered the 3-1 series win. It was their first BGT win since 2014-15. With this, they also qualified for the final of the World Test Championship 2023-25.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-big-positives-for-team-india-from-the-embarrassing-bgt-series-loss-against-australia/">3 Big Positives for Team India from the Embarrassing BGT Series Loss against Australia</a>

Virat Kohli was the Stand-in captain for Team India in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.

Watch: Virat Kohli teases the over-aggressive Australian crowd with "Sandpapar" gesture on Day 3

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The Australian Cricket Team, under the leadership of Pat Cummins successfully defeated Team India in the Sydney Test-Match by a margin of six wickets and this wicket helped them to seal the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series by 3-1.
While the Aussie players are going to be really happy with this series win, the Indians on the other hand, are facing a lot of criticism following the series defeat especially the Indian batters. Senior players like Virat Kohli are the main targets of the critics. 
In the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Kohli got dismissed on the outside off-stump line eight times and versus the Aussie bowlers, the former Indian skipper looked helpless &amp; cluseless versus the them. Now, AB De Villiers, the South African legend has made a huge revelation regarding how the former Indian and RCB skipper can tackle the outside off-stump deliveries.
<h2>'Every Batsman in the world struggles with some weakness'</h2>
AB De Villiers said, "He (Virat) can definitely find a solution to the the outside off-stump deliveries. Every batsman out there has a weakness and if I talk about myself, then the deliveries which used to come towards the pads in a straight line used to trouble me a lot. But I learnt from it and scored a lot of runs in the remainder of my career. 
I still remember the Test-Series versus England (ENG). The series kicked off on a positive note and I scored good amount of runs in the Durban Test-Match and everything was going smoothly. But, then the duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson started dismissing me on a successive note and especially, with the new ball, I got out constantly".
<h2>What's the solution to the problem of Virat Kohli? </h2>
AB de Villiers believes that old balls keep running in the mind of the 36-year-old, which automatically affects the next forthcoming delivery. What happened before on the previous ball doesn't matter... He (Virat) should play every ball like a new and fresh one, he should just forget thinking about the previous deliveries. If finds success in doing this properly, then he can play the outside off-stump deliveries in a much better way.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-big-positives-for-team-india-from-the-embarrassing-bgt-series-loss-against-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 Big Positives for Team India from the Embarrassing BGT Series Loss against Australia</a>

Scott Boland got the better of Virat Kohli for the fourth time in the BGT 2024-25 series | Image: Getty Images

Virat Kohli has struggled a lot with the outside off-stump deliveries in the ongoing BGT Series

Will Virat Kohli stop getting dismissed on the outside off stump line now? AB De Villiers gives a solution

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India batter Virat Kohli has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism after his failures in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The batter looked torrid with the bat in the majority of the series and there have been calls related to his retirement as well. 
Virat Kohli, who hit a century in the first Test, looked absolutely torrid with the bat in the rest of the games of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The premier batter was troubled by the balls outside off stump as it brought his downfall in almost every match of the five-match Test series. 
When Virat Kohli hit a century in Perth, it was expected that he would have a breakthrough series and would be setting the stage on fire. But that wasn't the case, as, after the ton in the opening match, he failed in the entire series and ended up getting just around 90 runs in the rest of the games. 
Since 2020, Virat Kohli has looked extremely torrid with the bat and has been averaging just in the 20s. This has seen him getting a lot of criticism for his poor outings. Many fans and experts have lashed out at him for his poor performances and hence they want him to make way for youngster. 
One of the heavy criticism came from Irfan Pathan, who pointed out the batter's poor average, saying that Virat Kohli averaged just 15 in the first innings of the Test. He said that the players with these low averages don't deserve a place in the Indian Team. 
<h2>He has made a lot of runs, but in 2024, batting in the first innings where you set up the match, Kohli averages just 15 - Irfan Pathan</h2>
Irfan Pathan added that it's time for Virat Kohli to make way for youngsters and that even young players will maintain a batting average of 25-30. Speaking to Star Sports, he explained: 
"He has made a lot of runs, but in 2024, batting in the first innings where you set up the match, Kohli averages just 15. If we take out his stats for the last five years, he barely averages 30. Does the Indian team deserve that from its senior player? It's better to give a youngster a long run, tell him to get ready; even that guy will maintain a batting average of 25-30." 
India's next Test series will be against England. It remains to be seen if he will be part of the series or not.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/shocking-jasprit-bumrah-accused-of-using-sandpaper-video-goes-viral/">Shocking! Jasprit Bumrah accused of using sandpaper, video goes viral</a>

India batter Virat Kohli has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism after his failures in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

"Youngster will maintain a batting average of 25-30"- Virat Kohli asked to leave Team India

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Day 3 of the fifth Test between India and Australia at SCG brought the end to a long one and a half months of your. Australia's one-decade-long wait to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has finally ended as they have beaten India in the final test by six wickets to clinch the BGT trophy 3-1. With this, they also qualified for the World Test Championship final.
On the other hand, India have been humiliated on Australian soil and also lost the chance to play the WTC final. The last couple of months have been horrible for Team India as they have lost a home test series against New Zealand, and now they have also lost the all-important BGT trophy. But there were few positives as well. Here we will talk about three positives for India from the BGT series defeat.
<h2>Three Positives for India to take forward after 1-3 Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat</h2>
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal - The Trusted Opener
It was a tough series for all the batters because bowlers dominated these conditions throughout. But there were some good batting performances as well. Yashasvi Jaiswal was India's best batter in this series. It was his first time in Australia, and he showed that he has it all to perform in tough conditions.
Jaiswal finished with the second-most runs after Travis Head and scored 391 runs at an average of 43.44 with one hundred and two half-centuries. He has been in good form, and India can look to cash in on his form in the coming Champions Trophy 2025.
2. Evolution of Nitish Kumar Reddy 
Another man who impressed everyone was young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Though his five wickets at an average of 38 don't do justice for him, it was his first tour, too, his debut series. He showed great maturity with his bat and scored 298 runs at an average of 37.25.
Nitish played some good innings under pressure. India can groom him to become a match-winning all-rounder, and in white-ball cricket, he can be very handy. Certainly, he has given selectors an option for the Champions Trophy 2025, along with Hardik Pandya.
3. Identification of Problem 
India's poor batting form became the reason of consecutive test series defeat. Especially, the form of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill became the taking points.
But in some ways it is good sign that the problems have been identify and now the management can work with these guys to regain their form. Because these are part of India's core batting unit for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/list-of-fastest-half-centuries-for-india-in-test-cricket/">List of Fastest Half-Centuries for India in Test Cricket</a>

Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 after winning the final test at SCG by six wickets.