India’s hopes of strengthening their position in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle suffered another setback after Bangladesh scripted history with their maiden home Test series win over Pakistan. The result pushed India further down the standings in a cycle where consistency has become increasingly important.
India are currently placed sixth in the WTC 2025-27 standings with 52 points from nine matches and a points percentage (PCT) of 48.15. Australia continue to lead the table with a dominant PCT of 87.50, while New Zealand and South Africa occupy the next two spots. Bangladesh’s rise following their victory over Pakistan has further intensified the competition in the middle of the table.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Day 5: Scorecard | Highlights
India’s campaign so far has been inconsistent, with four wins, four defeats and one draw. While victories against the West Indies earlier in the cycle helped them stay in contention, poor performances against South Africa and England have affected their progress. With several crucial matches still remaining, India now face added pressure to improve their results and climb back into the top positions.
Bangladesh’s rise has been one of the biggest talking points of the current WTC cycle. Before the Pakistan series, they were placed in the lower half of the standings, but back-to-back wins have significantly boosted their position. Bangladesh now have 28 points from four matches and a PCT of 58.33, moving ahead of India in the latest standings.
BANGLADESH HAMMER PAKISTAN
Bangladesh produced one of the finest moments in their Test cricket history by defeating Pakistan 2-0 in the away series. The Tigers completed the historic clean sweep after winning the second Test in Sylhet by 78 runs. It marked Bangladesh’s second consecutive Test series whitewash over Pakistan following their 2-0 triumph in 2024.
Bangladesh dominated key moments throughout the series. In the second Test, Litton Das scored a crucial 126 in the first innings, while veteran Mushfiqur Rahim followed it up with a superb 137 in the second innings to help Bangladesh set Pakistan a daunting target of 437.
Pakistan fought hard during the chase, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 94, while Shan Masood and Salman Agha contributed 71 each. However, Bangladesh’s bowlers held their nerve at crucial stages. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam starred with a six-wicket haul as Pakistan were bowled out for 358.
The series victory highlighted Bangladesh’s growing maturity in Test cricket, particularly the improvement in their pace attack and lower-order contributions. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto praised the team’s ability to perform consistently in difficult conditions, while Pakistan skipper Shan Masood admitted his side made too many mistakes during the series.
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