India may have lifted the T20 World Cup earlier this year, but when the conversation turns to Tests, Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar have plenty to think about. Unless something extraordinary unfolds in the remaining matches versus Sri Lanka and New Zealand later this year, India are virtually out of the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. A defeat to South Africa on home soil last year played a major role in tightening the noose. Yet even with a dip in Test form, the Indian team has received a boost in the newest ICC annual Test rankings released on Friday afternoon.
ICC annual Test rankings: India climb to third
In the latest annual standings, Australia remain at the summit. India, however, have moved up one place to third, collecting 104 points. In doing so, they have overtaken England, which sits just behind on 102 points.
This upward shift does not come from a sudden surge in India’s Test performances. Instead, the movement is largely linked to England’s uneven displays in the Ashes and their struggles in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy last year.
How the table reshuffled across teams
England have slipped below India after losing the points weight associated with results prior to April 30, 2023. That period included home victories against both New Zealand and South Africa, along with a 3-0 series win over Pakistan in Pakistan.
- South Africa are placed second in the annual Test rankings.
- New Zealand are fifth, while Pakistan are sixth.
- Sri Lanka have dropped one spot to seventh.
- West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe complete the top 10.
- Ireland have slipped out of the rankings after failing to play eight matches during the rating window.
- Both Ireland and Afghanistan must play two Tests each over the next year to re-enter the standings.
India’s fading WTC hopes and the tough road ahead
After the two-match Test series against South Africa last year, India slipped to sixth place in the WTC 2025–27 cycle. Their final stretch is stacked against three sides: Sri Lanka away, New Zealand away, and Australia at home.
From the nine remaining matches, India need to win at least seven to keep any realistic hope of reaching Lord’s Cricket Ground in London for the WTC final. The challenge appears even steeper because of the required away assignments: India must tackle two separate away series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and both are away from home.
The New Zealand tour will be followed by a home five-match Border–Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Given the recent struggles at home against New Zealand and Australia, a dominant 5-0 sweep against Pat Cummins’ team looks highly unlikely.
How India started the cycle
India began the WTC 2025–27 campaign with a 2-2 draw versus England in England, before going on to win the two-match series against the West Indies at home.
Gambhir’s Test journey: what hasn’t changed
Still, the series whitewash against South Africa altered the trajectory for Gambhir’s India. Under his leadership, India also missed out on the previous WTC final, suffering defeats at home to New Zealand and away to Australia.
