New Delhi: Team India won the second consecutive match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera. India vanquished England by an innings and 25 runs in the fourth Test to clinch the series 3-1. With this, India has qualified for the World Test Championship final.
After taking a lead of 160 runs, India bowled out the Joe Root-led side for 135 to seal a thumping victory and sealed the series 3-1.
India achieved another feat as this series win helped the team to gain the top spot at the Test team Rankings.
https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1368149627464118274
With this victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium, India has booked its spot for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Before the 4th test, India was on the top of the WTC table with a win percentage of 71 but still needed to win or either draw the test to qualify for the Final.
India finished as the number one team with 72.2 percentage points in the WTC points table, the factor that determined the final placings rather than total points won, following a change to the points system owing to the Covid-19 disruption.
India ?? New Zealand
The inaugural ICC World Test Championship finalists!
The wait will be unbearable. #WTC21 | #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/X3KcNrUTJ1
— ICC (@ICC) March 6, 2021
Now team India will face New Zealand in the WTC final which will take place at Lord’s between June 18-June 22 this year.
The Black Caps were the first team to ensure a place in the final with 70 percentage points. Australia finished third with 69.2 percentage points while England ended with 61.4 percentage points at the fourth position.
But the catch is that India suffered a 2-0 series defeat against New Zealand in February 2020.
“That victory against England means India finish the league phase of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship with a fine view from the top of the table,” read a tweet on the official Twitter handle of the International Cricket Council.
The Black Caps had qualified for the WTC final following the postponement of the Test series between South Africa and Australia. In November last year, the ICC had confirmed that the WTC points system would be amended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
