The competition for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final is heating up, with four teams – South Africa, India, Australia, and Sri Lanka – all in the running. South Africa currently leads the WTC standings, followed by Australia in second place and India in third. India and Australia are in the midst of a five-match series, with the series tied 1-1 after two Tests. South Africa, on the other hand, is set to face Pakistan in two Tests at home, starting on December 26.

Australia is also scheduled to play two more Tests against Sri Lanka after their current series with India. On the first day of the third Test between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane, play was called off due to bad weather. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the remaining days in Brisbane doesn't look much better, and there is a chance that the match could end in a draw.

If the Brisbane Test ends without a result, India still has several paths to qualify for the WTC final. If India wins both remaining matches in Melbourne and Sydney, they will qualify for the final, regardless of other outcomes. However, if India wins the series 2-1, they will need Sri Lanka to avoid a whitewash against Australia. If India draws the series 2-2, Sri Lanka must beat Australia in their upcoming series. If India draws the series 1-1, Sri Lanka will need to draw or win against Australia for India to stay in contention. On the other hand, if India loses the series in any way, they will be eliminated from the race for the final.

As for the match on the first day, Australia ended at 28-0, with Usman Khawaja on 19 not out and Nathan McSweeney on four, after India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to field. Only 13.2 overs were bowled in the first session, and there was no further play, much to the disappointment of the fans at the Gabba. To make up for the lost time, play will begin at 5:20 AM IST on Day 2, 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled. If conditions allow, up to 98 overs can be bowled on the second day.

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