Revealed: How can India qualify for WTC Final after draw in Brisbane Test

India National Cricket Team managed to draw the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against the Australia National Cricket Team. The game between the two teams took place at the Gabba in Brisbane, which concluded on Wednesday (18th December).

India National Cricket Team eked a draw from nowhere and will be heading into the fourth Test on the back of the series being levelled at 1-1. The Rohit Sharma-led side was dominated by the Australia National Cricket Team on the first three days with both bat and ball and it seemed they would end up facing defeat.

Australia took command on the first three days of the Test

Australia National Cricket Team were asked to bat first, and they had a terrific outing with the bat. Riding on the centuries by Travis Head (152) and Steve Smith (101), along with a half-century by Alex Carey (70), the Pat Cummins-led side posted a massive total of 445 runs.

In response, the visitors looked terrible with the bat. They lost wickets in clusters and were 74/5. It was then that KL Rahul (84) and Ravindra Jadeja (77) joined hands and led the rescue charge. But with around 30 runs still to avoid follow-on, all the specialist batters were back in the hut.

India avoided follow-on, and games end in a draw

But Akash Deep (30) and Jasprit Bumrah (10*) came up with a staggering effort with the bat and avoided the follow-on as their second innings ended on 260, trailing by 185.

With a massive lead, Australia attempted to play an attacking brand of cricket but they failed terribly. Pacers in Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj were all over the batters as they picked wickets at regular intervals.

Skipper Pat Cummins (22) was the top run-getter as Australia lost seven wickets for 89 runs before the hosts declared, setting the target of 275 runs to chase. India could bat for just 2.1 over before rain arrived and forced umpires to call off the Day, meaning the game ended in a draw.

How can India qualify for the ICC World Test Championship Final

The draw in the Gabba Test has provided the India National Cricket Team with a great chance to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship Final. To make it into the summit clash, the Rohit Sharma-led side will need to win the next two games in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. If this happens, this would ensure them a direct qualification in the final.

If they manage to win just one of the remaining two games, then they will need a favour from Sri Lanka. The Rohit Sharma-led side would want the island nation to win one game against Australia, or the series between the teams should end in a draw.

But if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 ends in a draw, then India National Cricket Team would want Sri Lanka to win by the margin of 1-0 or 2-0 in the series. The Rohit Sharma-led side cannot afford to lose both the games. If it happens, they would want Pakistan to whitewash South Africa.

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