India have slipped to second in the World Test Championship table after a humiliating 0-3 Test series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand and must win at least four of their five matches against Australia to keep their hopes alive for the final.
India lost the third and final Test to New Zealand by 25 runs at Mumbai, giving away the series 0-3, the first whitewash of an Indian Test series at home since South Africa had managed 2-0 in 1999-2000.
This was India's fifth consecutive loss in the current WTC cycle, and its PCT dropped from 62.82 to 58.33.
Australia regained top position with a PCT of 62.50.
Now, India travels down under to contest for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which has of itself been a significant match as both teams are competing for the top two positions.
India needs to win all the four matches against the Australians to qualify for the final and also enhance their percentage to 65.79.
Even a 2-3 loss could still leave open a slim hope of finishing second, so long as New Zealand do not defeat England and South Africa divide their series.
Defending champions Australia need only to win 3-2 against India for them to be assured of making it through for the third successive time, even though they slip up against Sri Lanka subsequently.
However, to not bank on external results, they will have to win five of their remaining seven encounters.
New Zealand's series sweep has also given them a timely boost in their WTC final hopes.
They find themselves at the fourth place with a PCT of 54.55; Sri Lanka are at the third place with a PCT of 55.56.
It might just be enough to win all three remaining home Tests against England to keep hope alive, as the team pushed their percentage to 64.29.
Just one loss, though, could send them back into the pack, and third-placed Sri Lanka, buoyed by their recent resurgence, also remain in contention.
They have four Tests left and are still to play South Africa and Australia. Therefore, if they win all four, their chances will go to 69.23% to enter the final.
South Africa is at number five in the PCT with a percentage of 54.17 and are also in contention for a top-two position and a Test at Lord's next summer.
With four Tests remaining in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, South Africa has nothing better to do than win all of them to ensure a secure 69.44% finish -- which can only be beaten if Australia can gain the best possible finish of 76.32%.
Read also| 3rd Test: Gill Calls His 90 Against NZ One of His Best Innings
Read also| 'As Long as I'm Playing, We Won't Lose a Series in India', Ravindra Jadeja
