WTC 2023-25 Points Table: India Retain Top Spot Despite 1st Test Defeat To New Zealand

India suffered a shocking 8-wicket defeat against New Zealand on Sunday, October 20, in the first Test of the three-match series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The hosts failed to defend a target of 107 runs on the final day, marking only the third time in history that India has lost a Test to the Black Caps on home soil. New Zealand’s last victory in India came in 1988 under the captaincy of John Wright.

Despite the defeat, India retains the top spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings with a PCT of 68.06%. Australia, the reigning WTC champions, sits in second place with 62.50%, followed by Sri Lanka in third (55.56%).

New Zealand’s historic win has propelled them to fourth place in the WTC standings with a PCT of 44.44%, while England, after losing to Pakistan in Multan, drops to fifth with 43.06%. South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the West Indies round out the lower positions in the table.

India’s hopes of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final, set to take place at Lord’s, have taken a hit with this loss. To secure a top-two finish, India must win four of the remaining seven Tests in the ongoing WTC cycle and avoid penalties from a slow overrate.

With the series still alive, India will look to bounce back in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, starting on October 24. The third and final Test will be played from November 1 to 5 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test: India Suffers Historic Defeat As New Zealand Chase Down 107 To Lead Series 1-0