As the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) heats up, teams across the globe are battling it out for a spot in the final. Scheduled to take place from June 11 to June 15, with a reserve day on June 16, the grand finale will be hosted at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, marking the second time in WTC history that this prestigious venue will serve as the battleground for the title.
India has been a consistent presence in the WTC finals since the tournament’s inception, making it to the last two finals. However, despite their dominance in the league stages, the Indian team has stumbled at the final hurdle both times, leaving fans and players hungry for redemption.
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has weighed in on who he believes will contest the 2024-25 WTC final. In a video shared on Cricbuzz, Karthik backed Rohit Sharma’s Indian team to once again make it to the finals. However, he predicts that Australia, led by Pat Cummins, will also secure their spot in the title clash. This time, though, Karthik is optimistic that India will finally overcome their WTC final woes and redeem themselves after last year’s heartbreaking loss to Australia.
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“I think Australia will be in the World Test Championship final, and that is India’s chance for redemption. Two years ago, they beat us at the Oval. Here is another opportunity in 2025, and I genuinely wish India goes on to cross that hurdle and beat Australia in the WTC final,” Dinesh Karthik stated.
Currently, India leads the WTC points table, with Australia not far behind. The two sides are set to face off in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, which will be a crucial encounter in determining the WTC standings. Later in the year, the teams will meet again in November for more red-ball action.
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Australia, eager to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade-long drought, will be formidable opponents. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma’s side will be determined to replicate their 2020-21 series triumph and solidify their position as one of the top Test teams in the world.
Before the Australia challenge, India will fine-tune their preparations with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home starting on September 19, followed by a three-match home Test series against New Zealand beginning on October 16.