New Zealand registered a historic Test series win in India on Saturday after Mitchell Santer produced his career-best performance at the Pune MCA Stadium. The 113-run defeat came after Rohit Sharma’s team was humbled by 8 wickets at Bengaluru by the Kiwis in the opening Test. While India were handed their first home defeat after 18 consecutive Test series victories, New Zealand celebrated their first-ever series win in the Asian country in nearly 70 years.

READ HERE | Mitchell Santner helps New Zealand register historic Test series win against India; as it happened at Pune

Surrendering the series also took a hit on India’s chances of making the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The final match against New Zealand and November’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy have now become very important for India’s journey ahead. The Kiwis’s victory, meanwhile, has given the likes of Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand besides Australia, a strong opportunity to qualify for the WTC25 Final next year.

In plain words, although all is not over for India, it will now take a string of impeccable performances to ensure that they reach the summit clash at the Lord’s. In the backdrop of the series loss against New Zealand, here are five things that Indian cricket fans need to know about the WTC Final qualification scenario:

1. The Pune defeat against New Zealand was India’s fourth loss in the current WTC cycle. However, India remain the leaders with 62.82 points compared to second-placed Australia’s 62.50.

ALSO READ | Indian squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series out: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhimanyu Easwaran part of BCCI’s Australia plans

2. As things stand, India need to win the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia to ensure their qualification to the final. Well, what if India win a Test and draws the rest? That won’t do the trick any more as Rohit Sharma’s men have to win four of the remaining six matches in the current cycle to be absolutely certain of a place in the final.

3. This scenario also elevates the status of the third and final Test against New Zealand from a dead rubber. India must win the final Test at Mumbai to keep their qualification hopes alive. In other words, there is plenty to fight for as the two sides meet again on November 1.

ALSO READ | Spinners Noman Ali, Sajid Khan steal headlines as Pakistan beat England at home

4. Sri Lanka, who have a PCT of 55.56, occupy the third spot while Pakistan’s nine-wicket victory against England in the third Test in Rawalpindi has helped them climb to seventh place with 33.33 PCT. England, who have 40.79 PCT, are sixth. 

5. Meanwhile, fifth-placed South Africa (47.62 PCT) can finish in the top-two if they manage to win their remaining five matches. After the second Test of the ongoing series against Bangladesh in Chattogram next week, South Africa will face Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home. The fact that Sri Lanka is not a formidable side away from home, and the unpredictability of Bangladesh gives the Proteas a real chance to turn the tables in their favour. 

Continue reading with advertising …

… or with a subscription

Visit motorsport.com as usual with advertising and tracking. You can revoke your consent at any time via the data protection page.¹

Use motorsport.com without any advertising banners, personalized tracking and commercials for a small fee.

Accept and continue

More information about advertising and tracking in our Data protection notice, the List of our partners and in Data protection information center.

Already a subscriber?

Log in here

CRUZEIRO striker Rafa Silva was sent off for elbowing an opponent after just THREE SECONDS.

The 32-year-old charged at Athletico-PR after they kicked off in their Brazilian Serie A clash on Saturday.

3

3

Advertisement

3

As he stormed towards the man in possession, he shrugged off one Athletico player and then planted an elbow on another, Kaique Rocha.

The referee stopped play and showed Silva a straight red card – one of the quickest in football history.

And it proved costly for Cruzeiro – who are battling in the top half of Brazil’s premier division.

Athletico, who are fighting relegation, capitalised on their man advantage to claim a 3-0 win.

The result lifts them out of the drop zone, while the red card remained the main talking point.

And fans on social media could not get enough of the ludicrousness that was a three-second dismissal.

One said: “Rafa Silva not being arrested is crazy.”

Another added: “Rafa Silva, never play again. Go away!”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

A third replied: “Plenty of highlights in this derby-weekend, but nothing beats this.”

While a fourth simply responded: “Bizarre.”

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says it feels “unfair and unjust” that his team fell to a 2-1 defeat at West Ham after conceding a controversial late penalty.

His side missed a host of chances and should have been out of sight by half-time, but Jarrod Bowen’s penalty condemned United to their fourth Premier League defeat of the season.

After waving away initial penalty appeals, referee David Coote was sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR) to review Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings.

Coote pointed to the spot after a lengthy stoppage and ignored protests from United’s players over a handball by Ings before Bowen slotted home in the second minute of injury time.

“Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes,” Ten Hag told BBC’s Match of the Day.

“That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on-field referee.”

The result moved West Ham up to 13th in the Premier League, one place above Manchester United who have won just three of their opening nine games.

Dutchman Ten Hag said he had spoken to the officials after the game at London Stadium.

“I spoke with them,” added Ten Hag. “But the decision is made. There’s no way back and that’s football.

“That’s a third time I have felt injustice in the season and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It’s not right.”

The Premier League explained on its Match Centre account on X that it was decided there was enough contact to award the penalty.

“The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by De Ligt on Ings,” the Premier League said.

“The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.”

Asked about the penalty decision, West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui said: “I didn’t see it. The players say it’s a penalty and the referee says it is a penalty, so I am sure they are right.

“I prefer to highlight that, after they scored, we keep the energy and positive momentum to win the match. I prefer to keep that energy.”

ARSENAL fans were left fuming after they were denied a late winner against Liverpool.

The Gunners have been unhappy about several refereeing decisions this season, particularly the red cards to Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard against Brighton and Manchester City respectively.

3

3

Advertisement

3

But against Liverpool they had a different gripe as they felt they were denied a legitimate goal.

The incident happened in the 90th minute as Jakub Kiwior leapt highest to head a ball forward towards Kai Havertz.

The striker also got the better of his man as he flicked the ball on before lobbing goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

But referee Anthony Taylor judged the German to have fouled Ibrahima Konate, possibly because his arms was raised.

The ball ended up in the back of the net courtesy of Gabriel Jesus after Havertz and Trent Alexander-Arnold tussled for the ball on the goal line.

However Taylor had already blown his whistle which meant the incident could not be reviewed by VAR.

Fans were outraged by the decision to award a free-kick, claiming it was never a foul by Havertz.

One fan reacted saying: “That is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen in football. Genuinely corrupt.”

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Another added: “Worst decision of the season.”

A third wrote: “Disgrace of a decision that’s the worst decision I’ve ever seen.”