South Africa’s bid to retain their World Test Championship crown received a major boost as the Proteas dismantled India in the Second Test, surging up the latest points table.
Already leading the two‑match series, Temba Bavuma’s men delivered a brutal reality check to the new‑look Indian side, crushing them by a 408‑run margin in Guwahati — South Africa’s first Test series win on Indian soil since the 1999–2000 season.
After piling up 489 in the first innings and declaring at 260/5 in the second, the Proteas set India an almost impossible target of 549. What followed was a complete collapse, with India dismissed for 201 and 140 across two innings — their heaviest defeat by runs in history.
With this emphatic victory, South Africa soared to second in the World Test Championship points table, keeping themselves firmly in contention to defend their crown. Their dominant performances in Pakistan and India give them significant momentum as they prepare to host Australia in 2026.
India, meanwhile, after being swept by visiting sides in consecutive years, face a steep climb to reach another WTC final as they fall behind Pakistan.
Latest World Test Championship Points Table:
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Ded | Points | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 100.00 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50.00 |
| 5 | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 48.15 |
| 6 | England | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 36.11 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 8 | West Indies | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 9 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
For the World Test Championship, the race has just become even more compelling. The tournament continues with New Zealand finally set to open their account against West Indies next.
