Test cricket, with its extended narrative arcs and slow-burning tension, thrives on defining moments. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the World Test Championship (WTC) era, a format designed to give context to every Test, turning dead rubbers into must-win clashes and forgotten overs into game-changers. While entire matches are remembered for iconic wins or collapses, it is often a single session that tilts the scales, whether through sheer skill, grit, or chaos.
In this countdown, we revisit five of the most impactful sessions in WTC history. These sessions not only decided matches but also shaped the journey of teams toward the final and forever etched themselves into the folklore of modern-day Test cricket.
5. South Africa Rattle India at Cape Town (WTC 2023–25)
Session: Opening Session, Day 1
Impact: India dismissed for 55, their lowest in South Africa.
In one of the most shocking starts to a Test, South Africa’s bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada, destroyed India’s batting lineup in just over 23 overs. That opening session set the tone for a dominant innings victory and marked a significant statement by South Africa in the 2023–25 WTC cycle. It also exposed India’s vulnerability in pace-friendly conditions, something that continued to haunt them.
4. Pakistan Collapses in Final Session vs Sri Lanka (Galle, WTC 2021–23)
Session: Final Session, Day 5
Impact: From a draw to a collapse that cost Pakistan key WTC points.
Chasing a target of 267, Pakistan were comfortably placed at 176/2. But in a stunning reversal, Prabath Jayasuriya ran through the middle and lower order, claiming multiple wickets in 90 minutes. Sri Lanka sealed a dramatic win, and Pakistan’s WTC campaign derailed as they lost points that could have secured them a spot in the final.
3. Ben Stokes Turns the Lord’s Test (WTC 2023–25)
Session: Final Session, Day 5 vs Australia, Ashes 2023
Impact: Nearly engineered an impossible comeback in a WTC points-heavy clash.
Though England fell short in the 2023 Lord’s Test, Ben Stokes’ awe-inspiring 155 almost pulled off another Headingley-style miracle. With England chasing 371 and down to their lower order, Stokes went berserk post-tea, smashing the Aussies and reviving England’s hopes. The session brought the Ashes (and WTC) back into balance and reignited the debate on the spirit of the game after Bairstow’s controversial stumping earlier that day.
2. Jamieson Destroys India in WTC Final 2021
Session: First Session, Day 3
Impact: Jamieson’s spell set the tone for New Zealand’s dominance.
With rain washing out most of Day 1 and Day 2, the WTC Final between India and New Zealand at Southampton had become a battle of nerves. On Day 3’s morning session, Kyle Jamieson bowled a sensational spell, dismissing Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, reducing India to 217. The psychological blow of that collapse gave New Zealand the upper hand, and they never relinquished it, eventually becoming the first-ever WTC Champions.
1. India’s Final Day Fightback vs Australia at Gabba (WTC 2019–21)
Session: Final Session, Day 5
Impact: India chased 328 to break Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the Gabba.
With the series locked at 1-1, India walked out to bat on Day 5 needing 100+ runs in the final session with a relatively inexperienced lineup. Rishabh Pant’s fearless strokeplay, Shubman Gill’s earlier counterattack, and Washington Sundar’s cameo turned what looked like a defensive draw into one of the greatest final-day chases in Test history. That single session secured India’s place in the WTC Final and redefined India’s away-Test legacy.
Final Thoughts
Sessions win you Tests, and Tests win you Championships. From heroic fourth-innings chases to devastating bowling spells, the WTC has seen sessions that redefined momentum and history. These unforgettable periods of play reminded fans why Test cricket remains the most nuanced and gripping format, where just a couple of hours can reshape the world order.
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