India's rollicking victory in the second Test against South Africa has catapulted them to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. India beat the Proteas by seven wickets in Cape Town to displace them from the first spot in the standings. (Scorecard | Full Coverage)
This was Rohit Sharma and Co's second win from four matches in the current cycle of the WTC, which gave them 12 vital points and took their tally to 26. It also took India's points percentage to 54.16. No other team has a points percentage of more than 50 right now.
After the victory in their opening Test of the two-match series, South Africa were perched at the top of the WTC 2023-25 standings. The loss meant their win percentage fell to 50%, which is the same as that of New Zealand, Australia, and Bangladesh.
However, India's position at the top is subject to change soon. There’s another New Year’s Test currently ongoing in Sydney, between Australia and Pakistan. If the Aussies win the match, they will go up to 54 points out of 96, taking their points percentage above India’s and putting them on top of the table.
Likewise, if Pakistan prevail over Australia, they will jump to the top of table as their points percentage will surpass India’s. A draw, however, will see Australia slip behind South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, all of whom are tied at the second spot. Pakistan’s points percentage will drop as well, but their position on the table won’t be effected.
At the Newlands Cricket Stadium, India reigned supreme in a whirlwind Test that got over in two days flat. With the Proteas leading the series with an unassailable 1-0 lead, India needed to bounce back in their only opportunity. The visitors had a riveting first day of the second Test as they bowled South Africa out for 55.
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But after getting a decent start to their innings, India's batting line-up imploded in a bizarre fashion, collapsing from 153/4 to 153 all out. Despite faltering, India's bowling picked up from where they had left off in the first innings.
This time it was Jasprit Bumrah all the way, as he picked up a six-wicket haul to match that of Mohammed Siraj in the first innings. The pace duo worked their magic to restrict the South African batting in either innings, leaving a target of just 79 runs to get. India got there in 12 overs, losing three wickets in the process.
