Is India’s Bowling Attack Good Enough to Win the WTC?
- Dr. AK Rana
In the fast-paced world of T20s and ODIs, where boundaries define brilliance and chasing targets is a thrill ride, Test cricket stands as a five-day war of strategy, patience, and precision. ICC World Test Championship (WTC) has added a layer of meaning to every Test match, making every session, every over, and every wicket potentially game-changing.
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The WTC Format: A War of Points, Not Just Runs
The WTC runs on a league-based system.
A win awards a team 12 points.
A tie gives 6 points each, a draw gives 4, and
a loss fetches nothing.
But there’s more: if a team falls behind the required over rate in a match, they lose 1 point for every over short.
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What makes it more strategic is the percentage system—
Teams are ranked based on the percentage of points won out of total points contested.
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When teams are tied in this percentage, the ranking is then decided by:
1. Total series wins
2. Percentage of away points
3. ICC Test rankings at the end of the league stage
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India’s WTC Schedule
India is set to play 18 Tests in this cycle (2025–2027), distributed across home and away series:
- England (away) – 5 Tests (June-August 2025)
- West Indies (home) – 2 Tests (October 2025)
- South Africa (home) – 2 Tests (December 2025)
- Sri Lanka (away) – 2 Tests (August 2026)
- New Zealand (away) – 2 Tests (Oct-Dec 2026)
- Australia (home) – 5 Tests (Jan-Feb 2027)
India will be contesting for a maximum of 216 points.
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England Defeat: Fielding Errors and Bowling Inefficiencies
India’s recent loss in the first Test against England has already sparked concerns.
Centuries from Indian batters displayed individual brilliance, but Test cricket is a team sport.
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Winning needs more than runs; it needs wickets, tight fielding, and relentless pressure.
India’s fielding was sloppy, with dropped chances and misfields costing crucial moments.
The bowling attack lacked consistency and bite on a pitch that had enough to offer.
A single loss in a five-match away series isn’t the end, but it raises red flags.
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Test Cricket: A Format Where Bowlers Win Matches
Unlike white-ball formats that are increasingly skewed towards batsmen,
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Test cricket demands complete bowling domination.
You can’t win unless you take 20 wickets.
Even if your team piles up 600 runs, you can’t secure victory unless you send the opposition back to the pavilion twice.
That’s what makes Test cricket more like a chess match.
Every over is a move and every field placement is a strategy.
Every wicket is a tactical victory.
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Individual scores won’t take team to the final;
a complete team effort will.
The red-ball format isn’t about explosive batting.
It’s about patience, skill, and bold decisions.
You must win battles not just with the bat but in the field and with the ball, because in Test cricket, bowlers win you matches, and teams win you championships.
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