With World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-2023 final berth at stake, India are battling out with Australia and Sri Lanka are toiling with New Zealand in their respective Test series. Australia are the only team who have confirmed their WTC final spot as they trounced India in the third Test in Indore of late.
If Rohit Sharma's brigade manage to win the fourth Test of the ongoing Border Gavaskar series, they will become the second team to make it to the WTC final which will be held at the Oval from June 7. But it won't be an easy task for Team India Sri Lanka could be a possible party poopers for them which can ruin their WTC final plans. Sri Lanka need to beat New Zealand 2-0 in the 2-match series to keep their hopes of qualifying for the WTC final alive. However, their chances might end even before the start of the 2nd Test as an Indian win in the ongoing Ahmedabad Test against Australia will eliminate them from the race. India needed to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 or better to confirm their place in the WTC final.
Meanwhile, former India cricketer and popular commentator Sanjay Manjrekar doesn't see Sri Lanka have even an iota of chance to make it to the WTC final as he thinks it is impossible for the Islanders to beat the Kiwis in their own backyard.
Manjrekar said Sri Lanka are incapable of beating New Zealand and India will be the team to face Australia in the WTC final.
"It was a brilliant start and we were right there on the ground, experiencing the vibe at the start. There were so many things going for this Test match. It's being played at one of the biggest stadiums in the world. It's a great setting when people are there, every seat was taken. World Test Championship takes for India, on the verge of getting there. I think India will get there. I don't think Sri Lanka are capable of upsetting New Zealand," Manjrekar said.
"So I believe, India are already in the final. But, you still have to actually, you know, officially get there. So that tension was there. Plus the series hanging the way it has, Australia making that brilliant comeback in Indore and plus a figure like Narendra Modi at the ground. That buzz was there. Every box was ticked before the start of this Test," he added.
Both the Test matches got underway on Thursday (March 9). Australia rode in Usman Khawaja's brilliant hundred to post 255/4 on Day of the 4th Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis and valuable contributions from middle-order helped visitors Sri Lanka fare well against New Zealand seamers in overcast conditions at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on Day 1 of the first Test. Before bad light stopped play, Sri Lanka were able to post 305/6 on the board from 75 overs.
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