In Hindsight…

An Opportunity for a Great Swansong Lost!

As Australia and South Africa gear up to face off in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s on June 11, 2025, Indian fans are left with a lingering sense of what could have been. For what should have been India’s third consecutive appearance in a WTC final has instead turned into a reflection on missed opportunities — and a farewell that felt unearned.

India’s shocking 0-3 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in their own backyard remains the single most pivotal moment of this WTC cycle. That series loss, in October–November 2024, wasn’t just a defeat — it was an unraveling. The repercussions were immediate and brutal: India’s points percentage (PCT) plummeted to 58.33%, dragging them from the summit of the WTC standings to a precarious second place.

Had India secured that home series, the final landscape might have looked very different. Here's a quick glance at how alternate outcomes could have shaped the table:

If India had defeated New Zealand... 

1. India Wins 3-0

• Points Gained: 36 (12 points per win)
• Adjusted Total Points: 98 (original) + 36 = 134
• Adjusted Matches Played: 14 (original) + 3 = 17
• Adjusted PCT: 134 / (17 × 12) × 100 ≈ 65.69%

With a PCT of approximately 65.69%, India would have surpassed Australia's 62.5%, reclaiming the top position in the standings. 

2. India Wins 2-0 (One Match Drawn)

• Points Gained: (2 wins × 12) + (1 draw × 4) = 28
• Adjusted Total Points: 98 + 28 = 126
• Adjusted Matches Played: 17
• Adjusted PCT: 126 / 204 × 100 ≈ 61.76%

A PCT of approximately 61.76% would have placed India just below Australia, maintaining a strong position for final qualification.

Adding to the sting of the series defeat, and the subsequent 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series, was the recent announcement that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli - two pillars of Indian cricket - would be retiring from Test cricket. The news sent ripples through the cricketing world, especially the exit of Kohli, who had long been the heartbeat of India’s Test resurgence and owned the red-ball game like very few others.

Fans and pundits alike felt the duo deserved a grand farewell — a final flourish on the biggest stage. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: they had a chance to earn it. 

Let’s revisit their performances during that fateful New Zealand series:

• Rohit Sharma: 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11 — 91 runs @ 15.16
• Virat Kohli: 0, 70, 1, 17, 4, 1 — 93 runs @ 15.50

Those numbers don’t tell the story of a fairytale ending. They narrate a quiet exit, shrouded not in glory but in regret. The WTC Final could have been the stage for a legendary swansong - but in elite sport, farewells are rarely granted; they are earned. 

Let’s root for a new champion, if not India - South Africa!

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Pics: Internet