London: Ahead of a pivotal phase in the ICC World Test Championship, India tops the leaderboard and aims to secure a place in the next year’s final at Lord’s, striving to overcome previous near misses. With crucial series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia on the horizon, India’s performance in these matches could decisively shape the final standings.

According to International Cricket Council, India, currently at 68.52% of possible points, leads the standings with notable victories, including a dominant 4-1 series win against England. Australia, holding second place at 62.50%, and New Zealand, with 50% of possible points, also remain strong contenders. Australia’s upcoming home series against India, particularly the five-match Border-Gavaskar series, is expected to be a significant factor in the championship race.

The competition’s dynamics are further complicated by teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who have shown potential to upset higher-ranked teams and climb the standings. Bangladesh, in particular, has surged to the top four following a historic series win against Pakistan.

As teams enter the final stretches of the championship, the outcomes of the upcoming series will be crucial in determining which two teams will compete in the much-anticipated final at Lord’s next year.