Updated World Test Championship Table: India Lose Top Spot After Crushing Defeat To South Africa, Slip To...

Intimidated by pace and scarred by extra bounce, an under-prepared India suffered an embarrassing innings and 32 run loss to a far superior South Africa in the opening Test which ended inside three days at SuperSport Park, Centurion. Having scored 245 in the first innings, the Indian batters managed only 131 in 34.1 overs in the second innings after South Africa managed a handsome 408 in its first essay. South Africa thus took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series and India's dreams of winning a Test series in Rainbow Nation for the first time in 31 years lay in tatters.

The crushing loss saw India slip to the fifth position from the top spot in the updated World Test Championship (2023-25) table. Meanwhile, South Africa jumped to the top spot.

India now have 44.44 percentage points while the Proteas have 100 percentage points after winning their first game of the 2023-25 cycle.

Here is the updated WTC table:

Only redemption for India now could be a 1-1 draw if they manage to square the series during the New Year's Test in Cape Town.

Indian team put up a shoddy batting show, which signified its cluelessness and singular lack of preparedness for a tough assignment like this.

It has been a horrible last six to seven weeks for skipper Rohit Sharma, who lost World Cup final, was removed from Mumbai Indians captaincy two weeks back and now didn't look like a leader that made him an instant favourite during the World Cup.

The team also looked a bit like its skipper, dishevelled and without any plan B for course correction.

As Bob Marley's iconic "Don't worry, Everything Gonna be Alright" blared from loudspeakers, the Indian team must be wondering how nothing went alright through entire course of the match.

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