How can India qualify for the World Test Championship final if the Boxing Day Test against Australia ends in a draw or loss?

After Day 2 of the 4th Test India vs Australia in Melbourne on Friday, most fans of the Rohit Sharma-led side would have feared the worst. But No. 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy and No. 9 Washington Sundar rose to the challenge and gave India a big chance on the third day on Saturday. India are still 116 runs behind Australia but with two days to go there is a chance that India can salvage the Test match. Given the final qualifying scenario of the World Test Championship, it will be great.

South Africa is currently number 1 in the race for the WTC final, followed by Australia and India. If India wins the series 3-1, they will automatically qualify for the final of the elite tournament. But even if India loses or draws the 4th Test in Melbourne, they can still qualify for the WTC final. In this case, Rohit Sharma’s men will have to eagerly await the results of two Test series – South Africa vs Pakistan and Sri Lanka vs Australia.

Here are the full scenarios for India’s qualification:

Nitish Kumar Reddy proved a hero for India on the third day of the Boxing Day Test, scoring a stunning first Test century to lead the hosts in front of 83,073 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. Playing in only his fourth Test match, Reddy was astute in his strokeplay – both on the front and back foot, while also being solid in defence, temperament, effort and composure as he teamed up with fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar, who hit a patient fifty and became the perfect second foil.

The duo came together when India were 221/7 in the first session and put together a crucial 127-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Flattening the pitch also helped the duo keep Australia at bay as India ended the third day on 358/9 in 116 overs and 116 runs.

With his father Mutyala constantly praying to God, his uncle and other family members watching eagerly from the front seats in the stands, Reddy scored an emotional century off 171 deliveries through a pulled-up on-drive from Scott Boland.

Once the hundred was confirmed, Reddy fell to his knees and raised his arm to look at the sky after placing his helmet on the handle of his bat (a reference to the Baahubali film) before immersing himself in the moment He completed his first Test century in front of his family, his father crying and thanking God with folded hands to heaven at an iconic venue.

Reddy also became the first Indian batsman to hit a Test century in Australia after coming to bat at number eight or lower. Nine balls after Reddy got his century, poor light and later drizzle forced both teams to leave the field, with the right-handed batsman holding up his bat and soaking up all the appreciation from his teammates and spectators at the MCG.