WTC table: SA's innings win tightens the top three, India stay fifth
South Africa's innings-and-31-run win over Australia in Gqeberha has tightened the top of the World Test Championship 2025-27 table. It has also left India's position unchanged, in fifth place. The series is level at 1-1 with the decider at Newlands, Cape Town, starting on October 27.
The win came after a poor start. Only 43 overs were possible across the first two days, and South Africa slid to 110 for 6 against the Australian pacers. Captain Temba Bavuma then batted through the third day for 179 and took the total to 425 for 9 declared. That innings earned him the Player of the Match award. Australia were bowled out for just 99 in reply and had to follow on. They made 295 in the second innings, which was not enough to avoid the innings defeat.
The result lifted South Africa's points percentage from 60.00 to 66.67, from four wins and two defeats in six Tests. Australia still lead, but their percentage fell from 81.82 to 75.00 after the loss. That leaves a gap of 8.33 points between first and third, much tighter than before the match. New Zealand sit between them in second on 72.22.
Some headlines have framed this as South Africa climbing into third. The defending champions had in fact dropped to third after losing the Durban Test by 214 runs. Gqeberha strengthened their hold on that place rather than moving them up.
The full table now reads:
- Australia: 75.00
- New Zealand: 72.22
- South Africa: 66.67
- Bangladesh: 55.56
- India: 51.52
- England: 38.54
- Sri Lanka: 33.33
- West Indies: 20.83
- Pakistan: 4.63
India have played 11 Tests in this cycle, with five wins, four defeats and two draws. That adds up to 68 points and a 51.52 percentage. They are only about four percentage points behind fourth-placed Bangladesh, who have 40 points from six Tests. India are comfortably ahead of England. Only the top two teams on percentage when the league stage ends will reach the final, so India need a strong run from here.
The Indian team's remaining schedule offers a way back. India are due to travel to New Zealand for a two-Test series, with the second Test in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1. A home series against Australia is also still to come. Because percentage decides the table, each Test is worth the same 12 points whatever the length of the series. A win in New Zealand would help India immediately. It would also mean taking points off one of the teams ahead of them.
The points system is simple. A win is worth 12 points, a draw 4, a tie 6 and a defeat nothing. Teams have played different numbers of matches, so the standings move sharply after each result. South Africa's six Tests and Australia's twelve show how different the sample sizes are. Australia's single defeat cost them nearly seven percentage points. Both sides are exposed to big swings from here.
For India, the Cape Town decider matters even though they are not playing in it. If South Africa win the series, they would add a further 12 points and could close in on or overtake New Zealand. That would make the top-two race harder for Indian fans to follow, because the teams India need to catch would be further ahead. If Australia win, they will stretch their lead at the top. A draw would be less decisive, since it is worth only 4 points to each side.
India's route to the final therefore depends on their own results as well as these other series. Winning the New Zealand Tests and doing well at home against Australia would give them the best chance of closing the gap to the leaders.