India’s qualification chances for the WTC final ended on Sunday as they suffered a defeat in the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney, conceding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years by a 3-1 margin. Australia qualified for their second successive final alongside South Africa with the BGT series triumph and two games remaining in the cycle.

The defeat reduced India’s points PCT at third place from 52.77 to 50.00 with an eighth loss this cycle. Meanwhile, Australia recorded their 11th win this edition, elevating the points’ percentage to 63.72 from 61.45. Having won the previous WTC final beating India at the Oval in 2023, Pat Cummins’ men will step up to meet South Africa in the WTC 2025 final to be held at Lord’s between July 11-15 this year.

While Australia lead South Africa by a 54-26 margin in Test cricket, the WTC 2025 final will mark the first neutral Test between the sides at Lord’s since the Triangular Tournament involving England in 1912.

India’s chances for a third successive WTC final nosedived in only three months, suffering six defeats starting with the 0-3 home series whitewash against New Zealand in November.

Unfortunately, Jasprit Bumrah's dream tour of Australia came to an anti-climax as the fast bowler was not able to take the field in India's bowling innings on the third Day. The stand-in captain was forced out of action on the previous day due to a back spasm and could not take even field in the final innings of the match. 

Bumrah has taken 32 wickets in the five-Test series surpassing late Bishan Singh Bedi’s 31 wickets in a five-Test series against Australia at their home.