Rahul Dravid Warns of Steep Road Ahead for India’s WTC Final Hopes
NEW DELHI: Former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid has offered a candid assessment of the national team’s prospects for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, acknowledging that while a path to the summit clash remains open, the margin for error has narrowed significantly.
Currently positioned fifth in the WTC standings, India finds itself in a challenging race to secure a top-two finish. Despite a strong start to the current campaign—highlighted by a dominant 1-0 lead and a commanding performance in their ongoing series against Sri Lanka—Dravid suggests that the road to the final is far from straightforward.
“I’m hoping they do. It’ll be a great run if India can qualify for the WTC final from here,” Dravid said in an interview with JioStar. “They’ve fallen behind a little bit, but given the quality of the Indian team, you’re never going to write them off. The win in the first Test in Galle was a positive first step.”
The New Zealand Crucible
The intensity of the schedule is set to ratchet up in October, when India travels to New Zealand for a two-Test series. Dravid, who brings a wealth of tactical experience to his analysis, emphasized that the tour will serve as a baptism by fire for the team’s younger core.
“New Zealand away is always a challenge. They are a tough side in their home conditions,” Dravid noted. “Many of our younger players haven’t experienced those specific conditions, which makes it a significant hurdle.”
Dravid also highlighted the transition period the Test side is currently navigating. With the retirement or exclusion of veterans like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara, the team is noticeably lacking the deep reservoir of experience that defined previous tours. Maintaining player fitness and managing injury workloads will be critical factors in the coming months, he added.
A High-Stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Beyond the immediate concerns of the New Zealand tour, a massive test looms in January 2027, when India hosts Australia for a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Dravid anticipates a highly motivated Australian squad eager to break their long-standing winless streak on Indian soil. “It’s going to be an exciting series. This is a generation of truly great Australian players who have not tasted victory in India, so they will be incredibly hungry to correct that record,” he said.
As the team navigates this crucial phase of the cycle, experts agree that Team India’s WTC final hopes rest on their ability to consistently secure points in these testing away and home environments. With the competition heating up, every session in the coming months will be vital to India’s aspirations of reclaiming their spot at the pinnacle of Test cricket.
