Team India will probably have a shot at historical past as they took one other step in the direction of the World Test Championship (WTC) final as they now have a 2-0 lead within the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia on the flip aspect want to keep away from defeat within the remaining two matches of the collection to assure a spot within the final. But above all, a spot within the historical past books is up for grabs as the 2023 WTC final might coronate the first Grand Slam champion within the International Cricket Council (ICC) historical past.
What is the ICC Grand Slam champion?
The phrase ‘Grand Slam’ usually utilized in Tennis to denote the champion of all 4 main slams is properly documented and will become a characteristic in cricket in days to come. A Grand Slam refers to all of the trophies a staff has gained within the ICC tournaments with no staff in that bracket but. India got here the closest to recording that feat in 2021 earlier than they misplaced the 2021 WTC final to New Zealand.
India have gained all the foremost ICC occasions besides the WTC looking for one other shot on the supreme achievement. India gained the ODI World in 1983 and 2011 whereas additionally successful the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2000 and 2013 Champions Trophies. In doing so, the Indian Team turned the first of its sort in 2007 to have gained all of the ICC occasions. However, with the inception of WTC in 2021, it stays the one trophy lacking from the cupboard and they’d have a shot at it in June of this yr.
Australia’s T20 World Cup success in 2021 noticed them add one other trophy to their cupboard however the inception of WTC that yr meant that they didn’t be a part of India as a whole Grand Slam champion. If the WTC final was to be selected kind, England would have had the perfect shot of successful the WTC final. However, the shortcoming to raise the Champions Trophy signifies that they continue to be at arm’s size from the coveted Grand Slam.
Teams shut to successful ICC Grand Slam
Australia – 5 ODI World Cups, 2 Champions Trophy, 1 T20 World Cup
India – 2 ODI World Cups, 2 Champions Trophy, 1 T20 World Cup, WTC Runners-Up
West Indies – 2 ODI World Cups, 1 Champions Trophy, 2 T20 World Cups
Sri Lanka – 1 ODI World Cup, 1 Champions Trophy, 1 T20 World Cup
Pakistan – 1 ODI World Cup, 1 Champions Trophy, 1 T20 World Cup
WTC Final spot up for grabs
As issues stand, India stay the closest to have come to successful a Grand Slam whereas the likes of Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan have gained the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy. Alongside India, New Zealand stay the one staff to have performed within the final of all ICC occasions however have failed to win the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup.
As issues stand, a WTC final comprising India, Australia and Sri Lanka might see the first ICC Grand Slam champion being topped. The WTC final will happen on the Oval from 7 to 11 June with 12 June as the reserve day.
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