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ICC World Test Championship Points Table: Australia Leads While India Preps for Afghanistan Test

By Taarachand Chandrakar
June 5, 2026 3 Min Read
Updated: June 5, 2026, 12:36 pm IST

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    ICC World Test Championship Points Table: Australia Leads While India Preps for Afghanistan Test
    Wtc Test Match Atmosphere At Golden Hour - Image Credit: Illustration by nhacricket Digital Labs

    The latest ICC World Test Championship points table shows Australia still running the show. New Zealand and South Africa sit close behind, but India finds itself in sixth place with work to do. The upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan at Mullanpur carries extra weight because it is India’s only home Test of 2026.

    Current ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 Standings (as of June 5, 2026)

    Pos Team M W L D T PTS PCT
    1 Australia 8 7 1 0 0 84 87.50
    2 New Zealand 3 2 0 1 0 28 77.78
    3 South Africa 4 3 1 0 0 36 75.00
    4 Sri Lanka 2 1 0 1 0 16 66.67
    5 Bangladesh 4 2 1 1 0 28 58.33
    6 India 9 4 4 1 0 52 48.15
    7 England 10 3 6 1 0 38 31.67
    8 Pakistan 4 1 3 0 0 4 8.33
    9 West Indies 8 0 7 1 0 4 4.17
    Notes on deductions: England lost 2 points for slow over-rate. Pakistan lost 8 points for the same reason in their series against Bangladesh.

    Australia’s numbers jump off the page. Seven wins from eight matches is the kind of dominance that puts one foot in the 2027 final already. New Zealand and South Africa have played fewer games but posted strong percentages. India’s record of four wins, four losses and one draw from nine matches tells the story of a side that has shown flashes but lacked consistency across the cycle so far.

    What the India vs Afghanistan Test Means

    The match at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur starts June 6. India will treat this as a must-win opportunity. A victory delivers 12 points and a chance to lift that percentage closer to the top group. Afghanistan, still building depth in the longest format, face a steep challenge on foreign soil against a full-strength Indian side.

    You can already sense the anticipation around this fixture. It is India’s lone home Test of the entire 2026 calendar. Fans who have waited months for red-ball cricket at home will fill the stands expecting a strong statement. For the visitors, every session on the park is another step forward in their Test evolution.

    India’s campaign has featured strong individual performances but also moments where the team failed to close out positions. The bowling attack remains potent on home pitches, and the batting lineup carries enough firepower to post big totals. The key will be converting starts into substantial leads and then pressing home the advantage with the ball.

    A convincing win here would not only add vital points but also restore momentum before India’s demanding away series against New Zealand later in the cycle. Those matches in New Zealand will test this group on seaming tracks far from home conditions.

    Australia’s Path Looks Clear for Now

    Australia still has series against Bangladesh and South Africa on the horizon. Their only loss so far came in a tightly contested match, yet they have responded with clinical wins since. The gap at the top feels significant, but the percentage system rewards sustained excellence over the remaining matches.

    New Zealand’s high percentage comes from a small sample size. They have games in hand and will look to capitalize when they return to action. South Africa’s three wins from four matches keep them firmly in the conversation for a top-two finish.

    The Bigger Picture

    Every point matters in this cycle. Teams that string together results now will shape the race for those two final spots in June 2027. India still controls its destiny to some extent, but it cannot afford more dropped points against sides it is expected to beat.

    The Mullanpur Test offers a clear chance to change the narrative. India has the squad depth, the home advantage, and the motivation of playing in front of its own crowd after a long wait. Afghanistan will fight hard, but the smart money says the hosts leave with maximum points and a much healthier look on the ICC World Test Championship points table.

    Verified Sports Correspondent

    Taarachand Chandrakar

    Taarachand Chandrakar is a Senior Cricket Analyst at nhacricket.com with over 9 years of experience in sports journalism. Specializing in T20 league dynamics and player performance auditing, Taarachand is known for his ability to decode complex match statistics into engaging, easy-to-understand narratives. His deep knowledge of the IPL and domestic cricket makes him a reliable voice for fans seeking expert match previews and tactical insights. Social Media: facebook

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