'They've fallen behind a little bit': Rahul Dravid on Team India's WTC final hopes

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid remains optimistic about India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship final, but acknowledges their path has become more difficult. Currently sitting at fifth in the WTC points table, India needs to secure strong results in their upcoming matches to climb the ranks and make the top two. Their journey starts with a challenging away series against New Zealand and culminates in a five-Test series hosted by Australia, scheduled to kick off in January 2027.

India's recent series in Sri Lanka has been a positive start, with them leading the first and second Tests by significant margins. Dravid believes this series marks an important first step, but emphasizes that India still has a long way to go in their quest for the summit clash.

Dravid expressed his hope for India's success in the remaining matches, stating that the team's quality cannot be dismissed. He also highlighted the challenge of playing against New Zealand away from home, noting that many young Indian players lack experience in those conditions. Additionally, Dravid pointed out that India will miss the presence of several senior players, such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara, who have extensive Test experience.

Looking ahead to the Australia series, Dravid anticipates that the Australian team will be highly motivated, given their recent inability to win a Test series in India. He believes the Australian players will be eager to turn the tables in home conditions, making the series a significant test for India.