India shot to no.1 spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 points table after Australia's decisive win over New Zealand in the first Test of their two-match series on March 3, Sunday. Australia thrashed New Zealand by 172 runs in their Test series opener which propelled Rohit Sharma's India to the top of the ICC WTC standings, with a percentage (PCT) of 64.58%.
Updated World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 points table:
| Rank | TEAM | MATCHES | WON | LOSS | DRAW | POINTS ACHIEVED | PCT (%) |
| 1. | India | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 62 | 64.58 |
| 2. | New Zealand | 5 | 3 | 2 | - | 36 | 60 |
| 3. | Australia | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 78 | 59.09 |
| 4. | Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 12 | 50 |
| 5. | Pakistan | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | 22 | 36.66 |
| 6. | West Indies | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 33.33 |
| 7. | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 3 | - | 12 | 25 |
| 8. | England | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 19.44 |
| 9. | Sri Lanka | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - |
How the NZ vs AUS' 1st Test unfold?
Talking about the match, under Cameron Green's leadership, who remained unbeaten at 174, Australia amassed 383 runs in their opening innings, with Matt Henry bagging five wickets for New Zealand. New Zealand found it challenging to counter, managing only 179 runs in their initial innings. Phillips led the scoring with 71 runs, while Australia's Lyon excelled with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 43 runs.
In their subsequent innings, Australia scored 164 runs, thanks to Nathan Lyon's 41-run contribution. Todd Phillips shone for New Zealand, securing five wickets for 45 runs.
On the fourth day, while chasing a 369-run target, New Zealand could only muster 196 runs, with Rachin Ravindra contributing 59. Lyon, for Australia, dominated again, capturing 6 wickets for 65 runs, leading Australia to a 172-run victory. Nathan Lyon stood out as Australia's key player. He delivered an extraordinary performance with a total of 10 wickets across both innings, securing 6 for 65 runs in the first and 4 for 43 runs in the second. This marked the first time since 2006 that a spinner achieved a 10-wicket haul in New Zealand. Notably, the second Test between New Zealand and Australia is scheduled to kick off on Friday, March 8, in Christchurch.
How can Team India remain on top of WTC Points Table?
India have a chance to remain on top of the WTC Points Table by defeating England in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala, which is set to start in Dharamshala from March 7. However, should the fifth Test between India and England result in a draw or an England win, it would create an opportunity for both Australia and New Zealand to potentially surpass India at the top of the WTC 2023-25 standings.
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