In the third Test of the five-match series against England in Rajkot, Team India secured an impressive 434-run victory, propelling them up the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team asserted their dominance on Sunday, February 18, as they bowled out the opposition for a mere 122 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
In the earlier stages of the match, the Indian cricket team posted a formidable total of 445 runs after choosing to bat first. Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja both displayed exceptional batting performances, registering brilliant centuries that steered the team away from a challenging start when they were at 33/3. Rohit contributed 131 runs, while Jadeja added 112 runs to the team’s overall score.
In response, England had a promising start with the openers putting up 89 runs in 13 overs. However, Ravichandran Ashwin disrupted the partnership, claiming his 500th wicket in Test cricket. The visiting team concluded the second day’s play at 207/2 after 35 overs, with Ben Duckett playing a remarkable innings of 153 runs off 151 balls, featuring 23 fours and two sixes. Mohammed Siraj spearheaded the Indian bowling attack with figures of 4/84, while Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja secured one wicket each. Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin also contributed by taking one wicket each. # ICC World Test Championship points table
In the second innings, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased an outstanding performance by securing his second Test double-century. The hosts declared their innings at 430/4, with Jaiswal remaining unbeaten at 214 runs off 236 balls, including 14 boundaries and 12 sixes. India set a challenging target of 557 runs for the visitors.
With this commanding win, Team India now holds a 2-1 lead in the ongoing series against the team led by Ben Stokes. Ravichandra Jadeja showcased exceptional bowling performance, claiming a five-wicket haul by taking five wickets for 41 runs. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav also contributed with wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah secured one wicket each. However, Mohammed Siraj remained wicketless in the fourth innings of the match. # ICC World Test Championship points table
| NO. | TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | DRAW | POINT DEDUCTIONS | POINTS | POINT PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NEW ZEALAND | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| 2 | INDIA | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 59.52 |
| 3 | AUSTRALIA | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 66 | 55.00 |
| 4 | BANGLADESH | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 5 | PAKISTAN | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 36.66 |
| 6 | WEST INDIES | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 33.33 |
| 7 | SOUTH AFRICA | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25.00 |
| 8 | ENGLAND | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 21 | 21.88 |
| 9 | SRI LANKA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00.00 |
In the ICC World Test Championship points table, the Indian cricket team, often referred to as the Men in Blue, has surpassed Australia to claim the second position. India now holds 60% of the points from their participation in seven matches during the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle. Despite facing a 28-run defeat in the series opener, India has made a significant climb in the rankings.
New Zealand continues to lead the World Test Championship rankings, maintaining their top spot after a 2-0 victory over an inexperienced South African team on their home turf. Meanwhile, the reigning champions, Australia, have slipped to the third position with a points percentage of 55.
Presently, England finds itself in the eighth spot, having incurred a deduction of 19 points due to slow overrate infractions following their fourth defeat in the cycle. The team led by Ben Stokes has seen a decline in points percentage from 25% to 21% following their notable loss in the Rajkot Test. #ICC World Test Championship points table
Sri Lanka currently occupies the bottom position in the table, being the only team to have accumulated points in the championship. They experienced a 2-0 whitewash against Pakistan at home last year.
Pingback: Yashasvi Jaiswal's Consecutive Test Double Century: India wins - Cricket Info