New Delhi. The third and final Test match of the 3 Test series between India and New Zealand has started in Mumbai on Friday. Now the challenges for India to reach the final of the ICC World Test Championship are increasing. Before the series against New Zealand, it was looking like a favorite. But the Kiwi team has defeated it 0-2 and now it has to avoid a clean sweep first. If it is unable to avoid a clean sweep, then it will not only have to face a clean sweep at home but will also lose the number 1 crown in the WTC rankings.

India needs to get back on the winning track.

But if it wins against New Zealand, then it will have to win 3 out of 5 Tests on the tour of Australia. Only then will it be able to make its place in the ICC WTC final with pride. If it wins the series for less than this, then the key to its fate will depend on the good or bad performance of other teams.

South Africa has become stronger.

Meanwhile, South Africa, which defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in its own home, has made a strong comeback. Now its path is somewhat easier, where it has to play a Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In such a situation, its chances of reaching the final of the ICC WTC have become very strong.

India needs 4 wins out of 6 Tests.

Including the Mumbai Test, India now has only 6 Test matches left in this World Test Championship cycle. It will have to win 4 Test matches from here at any cost. In such a situation, the easiest way left for it is to win the Mumbai Test and target winning 3 out of 5 Tests in Australia. Although it will not be easy to defeat Australia in its home, but if it is unable to do so, then the fate of Team India will depend on the performance of other teams.

Why did South Africa's chances increase?

South Africa has defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in its home ground and has now collected 54.17 percent points and is currently in the fourth position. Ahead of them is Sri Lanka (55.56%) at number 3, Australia (62.50%) at number 2, and India (62.82%) at number 1. South Africa has to play its remaining 4 Tests at home, where it will play against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Apart from this, India and Australia, which are at number 1 and number 2, have to face each other. In such a situation, the team at number 4 will definitely have a chance to reach the top 2 because when the teams in the top 2 fight each other, one of them is sure to lose points. Along with this, if the African team wins all its four tests, then their winning percentage will be 69.44 percent.