Dravid optimistic on India's WTC final chances

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid expressed optimism about the national team's prospects of reaching the 2027 ICC World Test Championship final, despite acknowledging the significant challenges that lie ahead. Speaking in an interview with JioStar, Dravid commented on India's current standing and upcoming fixtures following their victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

India currently sits fifth in the WTC 2025-27 standings with a points percentage of 53.33, trailing leaders Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Dravid noted that the team has "fallen behind a little bit" but emphasized that their quality should not be underestimated. "Im hoping they do. Itll be a great run if India can qualify for the WTC final from here," he said. "They started off well against Sri Lanka, so thats a good first step."

The path forward is demanding. India's next major test is an away series against New Zealand in November 2026, followed by a home Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia beginning in January 2027. Dravid highlighted the New Zealand tour as a particular challenge for a young squad. "New Zealand away is always a challenge. Tough team, New Zealand, to...