Rain and a wet outfield have disrupted the second Test between India and Bangladesh at Green Park Stadium, threatening to derail India’s World Test Championship (WTC) final ambitions. Only 35 overs were bowled on Day 1, with Bangladesh at 107/3, while Indian pacer Akash Deep took two crucial wickets. Day 2, however, was completely washed out.
India currently leads the WTC standings with a percentage points (PCT) tally of 71.67 after 10 matches, positioning them as strong contenders for their third consecutive final. A 2-0 series win over Bangladesh would have left India needing just three more wins from their remaining eight matches to secure a WTC final spot.
However, if the second Test results in a draw due to rain, India will need to win five of their next eight Test matches to ensure a place in the final, assuming other top contenders do not drop points. This complicates their path, as they would likely need to sweep New Zealand 3-0 at home and secure at least two wins in the five-match Border-Gavaskar series against Australia.
Although India has a strong record in Australia, winning the last two series there, replicating that success under the pressure of WTC qualification will be a daunting challenge. Their dominant form at home provides some confidence, but if the current Test is washed out, their margin for error significantly narrows.
The upcoming home series against New Zealand will be crucial for India’s campaign. A 3-0 win will ease the pressure of needing multiple wins away in Australia, where two victories in the Border-Gavaskar series would still be an impressive achievement.
For now, India hopes for a break in the rain to resume play in Kanpur. Every session lost to weather makes the road to the WTC final steeper. With talented bowlers like Akash Deep already making an impact, India is eager to seize control of the match when conditions allow. However, the rain-soaked outfield is adding unexpected complexity to India’s plans for WTC qualification.
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