Team India’s journey in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 has hit a bump, and their chances of reaching the semi-finals are now dependent on other teams’ performances. After suffering a heavy defeat against New Zealand in their first match, the Indian team finds itself in a tough spot. While India still has a shot at qualifying, it will require some help from New Zealand in their upcoming clash against Australia.
India Needs New Zealand to Win Against Australia
In their first match of the tournament, India lost to New Zealand by 58 runs. This defeat not only put India at a disadvantage in the points table but also affected their net run rate significantly. Currently, India sits in fourth place in Group A with a net run rate of -1.217. Meanwhile, New Zealand leads the group with a strong net run rate of 2.900.
If India wants to stay in the race for the semi-finals, they will be rooting for New Zealand to defeat Australia in their match on October 8 at Sharjah. A New Zealand win will keep them at the top of the table, allowing India a better chance to secure a semi-final spot if they win their remaining two matches.
India’s Remaining Matches: A Must-Win Situation
India’s road to the semi-finals is simple: they need to win their remaining matches. The team will face Sri Lanka and Australia in the upcoming days. If India manages to win both games, they will end up with 6 points in the group stage.
However, if Australia defeats New Zealand, the situation will get trickier for India. Australia would then need only one more victory, either against Sri Lanka or Pakistan, to secure a semi-final spot. This would leave India in a position where their qualification would depend not only on their victories but also on the net run rate.
Australia’s Match Against Pakistan Could Be Key
If New Zealand beats Australia, India will need to focus on their own performance. They must secure wins against both Sri Lanka and Australia to keep their chances alive. Meanwhile, if Australia beats Pakistan but loses to New Zealand, India will have a clear path to the semi-finals. In this scenario, Australia would only have 4 points, allowing India to surpass them in the table if they win both of their remaining matches.
India Needs a Big Win Against Sri Lanka
One key factor that could affect India’s qualification is their net run rate. To improve it, India will need a big win against Sri Lanka. Although India defeated Pakistan in their second match, they took 18.5 overs to chase a target of just 106 runs, which didn’t do much to boost their net run rate.
To increase their chances of reaching the semi-finals, India will have to register a convincing win against Sri Lanka, ideally by a large margin. This will give them a better chance of qualifying even if other results don’t go in their favor.
India’s path to the semi-finals may be tough, but it’s still possible. With two crucial matches ahead and the New Zealand-Australia clash holding the key, Indian fans will be closely watching the outcome of today’s match.
