South Africa Stuns India, Shakes Up ICC World Test Championship Standings

The ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle has taken an unexpected turn as South Africa stunned India with a 30-run victory in the first Test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This result has significantly impacted the WTC standings, with India now slipping to the 4th position.

Chasing a modest target of 123 runs, India crumbled under the pressure of a spin-friendly wicket, getting bowled out for just 93 runs. This defeat comes as a major blow to India, who had already suffered two losses in England earlier this year.

Meanwhile, South Africa, who began their title defense in Pakistan last month, have now won two of their three matches so far. Led by captain Temba Bavuma's unbeaten 55, the Proteas mustered 153 runs in the second innings, with Bavuma being the only batter to cross the 40-run mark.

This victory marks South Africa's first Test win in India in 15 years, a remarkable achievement that has propelled them to the 2nd position in the WTC standings with a 66.67% PCT. On the other hand, India's 61.90% PCT has seen them drop to 4th place, trailing behind Australia, Sri Lanka, and the Proteas.

As the WTC cycle progresses, this result has set the stage for an intriguing battle among the top contenders, with the final in 2027 set to be a highly anticipated event.