India strengthened their grip on the top spot of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 cycle as they comprehensively outplayed Bangladesh by a margin of 280 runs in a single Test at Chennai, while Sri Lanka firmed up their chance of getting into the final with good shows against New Zealand and defeating them convincingly in Galle.
Both secured crucial points to make it thrilling in the battle for the last two places left free to be awarded at Lord's for the WTC final of next year.
India continue to establish their dominance at the top of the table by winning their latest, recording a percentage of 71.67%. Star of this match was Ravichandran Ashwin: given player of the match on this occasion for his all-round brilliance with a century in the first innings and six wickets in the second. In short, this effort ensured India bowled Bangladesh out on the fourth day of the match and ended it on the same day.
Bangladesh amassed a healthy 158/4 in pursuit of a gargantuan target of 515 against India, and its hopes rested in the effort of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
But the Indian spin duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja went on to demolish the lower order, which made Bangladesh muster as fewer as 12 crucial points in the WTC.
The team took defeat at the hands of India and stood at the sixth spot in the standing, collecting a percentage of 39.29%, behind Sri Lanka and England.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka fully capitalized on the margin against New Zealand in Galle to jump into third place in the WTC table. With a 50% win rate for Dhananjaya de Silva's side, they now stand in a good position to carry their bat against the team carrying the flag high at the top and seek a place in the final.
A spine-chilling five days in Sri Lanka won the 63-run victory against the BlackCaps as Prabath Jayasuriya emerged as the hero, finishing off match figures of 9-204, and received the Player of the Match award.
Sri Lanka showed great tactical acumen in deciding to hold off bowling New Zealand out on the fourth day. The bowlers thus came back fresh for the final day and played on it, helped the Lankans to a massive 275-run target. Jayasuriya struck early to send back Rachin Ravindra, who could score only one over his overnight score of 91, and the Kiwi tail folded quickly thereafter.
Sri Lanka now stand a fair chance of reaching the WTC final. They may still get the absolute best 69.23 percent of their chances now with a clean sweep against South Africa, followed by a 2-0 series win over Australia at home.
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