India consolidate second position in WTC standing with five-wicket win in Ranchi

Team India attend a practice session in Rajkot (Pic: AFP)

India consolidated their second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) standing following their five-wicket win against Ben Stokes' England in the IND vs ENG 4th Test at Ranchi on Monday. The hosts, led by Rohit Sharma, took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-Test series.

India's point-percentage jumped from 59.52 to 64.58 following the hard-fought win and they further extended the gap with Australia (55%) and Bangladesh (50%), third third and fourth-placed teams, respectively.

England, on the other hand, are languishing at eighth with 19.44%, just a spot ahead of bottom-placed Sri Lanka, who are yet to open their account.

India have so far played eight Tests in the current WTC cycle, winning five, losing two and drawing one match.

England's 'Bazball' approach doesn't seem to have given them rich dividends with the visitors having won just three matches, while losing five and drawing one so far.

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New Zealand are leading the standing with 75 percentage points and have played just four Tests so far.

A total of 12 points are awarded for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw. Teams are ranked according to the percentage of points.

The top-two teams will progress to the final at Lord's in 2025.

India have reached the WTC final both the times since the format was launched. They lost to New Zealand in the inaugural championship final, while bowing to Australia in the second edition.

India have a great chance to further cement their second position if they win the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala, beginning from March 7.

Meanwhile, skipper Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on 24, with Yashasvi Jaiswal on 16. Opener Zak Crawley earlier top-scored with 60 but the rest of the England batting faltered against India's spin in the IND vs ENG 4th Test, with Ashwin returning figures of 5-51 and Kuldeep Yadav 4-22.

England lost regular wickets to end their innings in the final session, leaving it up to the bowlers to level the series and send it to a fifth-Test decider in Dharamsala.

(With agency inputs)