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Xtra Time Web Desk: After a month-long break from international cricket, India is set to kick off a critical home Test season on September 19. This upcoming series is pivotal for India in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with the team slated to play 10 Test matches. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India currently tops the WTC points table with a strong percentage of 68.52%. They remain among the leading contenders for a spot in the final at Lord's in July next year.

To maintain a percentage above 60—having qualified for the WTC 2023 final with a 58.8%—India needs to secure an additional 63 points. This target can be met with five wins and a draw, while six victories would elevate their percentage to 64.03%. To match their current score of 68.52%, they would need seven wins, which would push their percentage to 69.3%. The maximum possible finish for India could be 85.09%.

Sri Lanka leapfrog England on the #WTC25 standings thanks to victory at The Oval ????

More from #ENGvSL ???? https://t.co/nY7XEQHxqh pic.twitter.com/247Nqdg4mX

— ICC (@ICC) September 10, 2024

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In this WTC cycle, India has shown impressive form, notching six wins from nine matches to top the rankings. Their campaign began with a 1-0 win against the West Indies, though the second Test ended in a rain-affected draw. A challenging tour of South Africa saw India lose the first Test but recover to level the series 1-1.

India dominated at home against England, overcoming their Bazball approach with a 4-1 series win after a series of comebacks. The team will play their remaining 10 Tests this year, including a 2-match series against Bangladesh and a 3-match series against New Zealand. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, however, poses the biggest challenge, with India having retained the trophy since 2017. The outcome of this series could be crucial in determining the top two spots in the WTC standings.

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