How India’s WTC final hopes take a hit after Bangladesh’s historic win over Australia: Explained

Bangladesh players celebrate after defeating Australia on day four of the first test in Darwin, Australia (left), Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir (r)

Bangladesh pulled off a nine-wicket win over Australia in Darwin on Sunday, giving them one of the biggest wins in Test cricket and leaving Australia’s 20-Test schedule over the next 12 months off to a difficult start.Cameron Green’s maiden Test century at home delayed the result, but Bangladesh had already taken control of the match after three-and-a-half days of cricket on a Marrara Stadium pitch that offered a good contest between bat and ball.The result was unexpected given the records of the two teams. Australia had reached the last two World Test Championship (WTC) finals and won 18 of their previous 23 Tests. Bangladesh, meanwhile, had lost 22 of their previous 26 Tests outside Asia and had suffered innings defeats against Zimbabwe and a Cricket Australia XI in the previous two months.Yet Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side produced a nine-wicket win in their first Test in Australia since 2003. It was Bangladesh’s first long-format tour of Australia in 23 years and one of the biggest results in the country’s 40-year history in international cricket.The result has also changed the WTC picture.Before the Darwin Test, Bangladesh were fourth in the WTC standings, one place above India. However, they had played only four Tests at that stage — losing 0-1 to Sri Lanka and beating Pakistan 2-0 at home — so their position was largely viewed in the context of the small number of matches they had played.Their win in Darwin has now pushed Bangladesh to 66.67 per cent, while India remain on 48.15 per cent.India had entered the Sri Lanka series after drawing 2-2 in England and beating the West Indies 2-0 at home. Their progress was then checked by a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa.The two Tests in Sri Lanka were expected to be an important part of India’s push for a place in next year’s WTC final. But rain disrupted the second day of the opening Test in Galle after India had made a strong start, while more rain is forecast over the next three days.Bangladesh’s win in Darwin has widened the gap between them and India to more than 18 percentage points.For India, the remaining WTC schedule leaves little room for dropped points. After Sri Lanka, they travel to New Zealand for two Tests before hosting Australia in a five-Test series.New Zealand have proved difficult opponents for India in their own conditions, while India may need something close to a 4-0 series win against Australia to remain in contention for the WTC final.The current WTC standings are: