What India need to qualify for World Test Championship Final? Dinesh Karthik answers - Check

Despite finishing second in the points standings, veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik thinks it will be difficult for India to make it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final for a second time in a row. India is now ranked second with 99 points and a percentage of 58.93 on the points chart. India's following Test match will be a four-match home series against Australia beginning on February 9. India will go to the WTC final if they win all four or even three of their matches.

Two Tests begin in the coming week _

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— ICC (@ICC) January 1, 2023

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"I think it is going to be a hard one. I really think it is going to be an uphill task for India. To win three out of four Tests is never easy. That would mean playing to our strengths and assuming that Australia's weakness against spin will come through. But we have also seen the fact that they have not played against off spin very well. So it is a catch 22 situation for India," Karthik was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Karthik, who has played 26 Tests for India, also feels that the batters have to find a way to counter the threat posed by premier Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. In the series against Bangladesh, which India won 2-0, many batters fell to bowling of left-arm spinners Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

"They have to find an aggressive way to tackle off spin. The good thing is that Australia have just one spinner that they bank on. Whoever is the second spinner, whether it be Ashton Agar, Matthew Kuhnemann or Adam Zampa, it can be targeted by India," added Karthik.

He also remarked that India left-arm spin all-rounder Axar Patel will be more than handy on a spin-friendly pitch if it is prepared for Tests against Australia at home. "For the moment, we should bank on the fact that we have three quality spinners right now who on turning tracks will be a handful to deal with."

"Going with the fact that on a turning track, I would bank on Axar Patel lot more because of his height and natural variations he has got and that should keep India in good stead. But the Indian batters definitely need to step up."