Test cricket thrives in its unpredictability. And the World Test Championship (WTC) has amplified that essence, stretching games over five days where fortunes swing session by session. While some matches meander to expected draws, others twist violently in their final acts, leaving fans breathless and analysts speechless.
There are games where, deep into Day 5, a draw feels inevitable. The field spreads out, spinners bowl in tandem, and everyone braces for handshakes. But every so often, something wild happens: an inspired bowling spell, a late batting collapse, or a spark of madness under pressure. Suddenly, a dull draw transforms into a dramatic win.
Here are five WTC games that seemed destined for draws but flipped spectacularly into unforgettable victories.
5. South Africa vs India – Johannesburg, 2022
WTC Cycle: 2021–23
Result: South Africa won by 7 wickets
Why It Should’ve Been a Draw:
Chasing 240 on a spicy pitch against one of the best bowling attacks, and with rain delays shortening play, a draw looked likely.
The Twist:
Dean Elgar’s gutsy unbeaten 96 and South Africa’s disciplined batting made the difference. The Proteas defied odds, playing through a charged Indian pace attack to snatch victory late on Day 5.
4. India vs England – Lord’s, 2021
WTC Cycle: 2021–23
Result: India won by 151 runs
Why It Should’ve Been a Draw:
Heading into Day 5, England were well-placed. India’s lead wasn’t insurmountable, and a draw seemed more likely with time ticking.
The Twist:
Shami and Bumrah’s unexpected 89-run partnership turned the match on its head. Then India’s pacers, fired up after the sledging incident, ripped through England’s batting order. What seemed like a diplomatic handshake turned into an all-out assault.
3. New Zealand vs Pakistan – Karachi, 2023 (2nd Test)
WTC Cycle: 2021–23
Result: Match drawn, but almost a dramatic win for NZ
Why It’s an Honourable Mention:
Not quite a win, but New Zealand came within one wicket of pulling off a miraculous victory on a featherbed pitch. Pakistan had nine wickets down when bad light stopped play; one more over might have changed everything.
The Drama:
From a match where both sides piled on the runs, it almost turned into an epic heist. Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi nearly pulled off the impossible.
2. England vs Pakistan – Rawalpindi, 2022
WTC Cycle: 2021–23
Result: England won by 74 runs
Why It Should’ve Been a Draw:
On one of the flattest pitches in modern Test history, a draw felt written in stone. Over 1700 runs were scored, with four centuries in the first innings alone.
The Twist:
Ben Stokes declared boldly with four sessions left. England’s pacers, especially Ollie Robinson and James Anderson, found reverse swing magic on Day 5, bowling Pakistan out in the dying light, clinching a win with just minutes to spare.
1. India vs Australia – Gabba, 2021
WTC Cycle: 2019–21
Result: India won by 3 wickets
Why It Should’ve Been a Draw:
The series was 1-1, the final Test was at the fortress Gabba (where Australia hadn’t lost since 1988), and India were fielding what was virtually a second-string XI. Chasing 328 on a worn Day 5 pitch was expected to be too much.
The Twist:
Shubman Gill’s sparkling 91, Pujara’s gritty resistance, and Rishabh Pant’s fearless 89* made it one of India’s greatest Test wins. With time running out and wickets in hand, Pant launched a fearless assault, turning a safe draw into a bold win.
Final Thoughts
These games prove why the WTC has been a blessing for Test cricket. They weren’t just contests of skill; they were rollercoasters of strategy, grit, and pure drama. Matches that once lulled towards a handshake finish found sudden adrenaline. And in doing so, they etched themselves into cricketing folklore.
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