WTC points table 2023-25: India makes dramatic rise by beating South Africa in Cape Town

India, with 12 points in the pot after their first-ever win over Newlands, moved above South Africa in the 2023-2025 World Test Championship points table.

Jasprit Bumrah appeals for a wicket against South Africa in the second Test. (Image: BCCI)

New Delhi: Indian cricket quickly improved their position in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) rankings by jumping to the top of the rankings after their seven-wicket win over South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday. India entered the series as the top-placed team in the rankings, but their loss in the first match saw Rohit Sharma’s men drop to fifth place. With 12 points in the pot after their first-ever win over Newlands, India saw them rise to the top again and push South Africa into second place.

India now has 26 points with two wins, a loss and a draw. India’s win percentage is now 54.16. Earlier, a six-wicket haul from both Jasprit Bumrah (second innings) and Mohammed Siraj (first innings) both proved to be match winners in a match that lasted just 642 deliveries (107 overs).

After a 32-run defeat in the first game, India bounced back in a big way by bundling South Africa for just 55 points. In reply, India scored 153 runs. In the second innings, Bumrah finished with excellent figures of 6/61 as India bowled out South Africa for 176 and set themselves a target of 79, after Aiden Markram had produced a superb counter-attack with 106 off 103 balls before lunch.

The hosts completed the chase in the second session, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer not out on 17 and 4 respectively. This is the shortest Test match ever in terms of overs bowled, surpassing the previous best involving Australia and South Africa at the MCG in 1932. India also became the first Asian nation to win a Test match at Newlands.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma admitted that they made mistakes in the series and need to learn from them. “A great achievement. In Centurion we had to learn from the mistakes we made in that Test. We came back quite well, especially our bowlers. Even though the conditions were tough for the batters, you still have to place the ball in the right areas,” Rohit said after the match.

He also gave credit to the bowlers. “A lot of credit to Siraj, Bumrah, Mukesh and Prasidh, who supported them in whatever way they could. When you come to this part of this world it is always a challenge. In the last four to five years, we have become a very good traveling team,” he added.

While Siraj received the Man of the Match award, Bumrah walked away with the Player of the Series along with South Africa’s Dean Elgar, who was playing his last Test. “I didn’t expect the match to go so quickly, I’ve never played a shorter Test match in my life. Test cricket gives you surprises. I am very happy that we achieved our first win (in Cape Town), a great series and a fighting series,” said Bumrah.