New Delhi: Group 1 of the Super Eights is getting all the more exciting in T20 World Cup 2024 after India beat Bangladesh and Afghanistan shocking Australia to make a logjam of a situation. The top two teams from both the Super Eight groups will advance to the semifinals and as far as Group 1 is concerned, India look all but qualified following a rampant run in the tournament so far.
India started off with four back-to-back wins in their group stage fixtures including the momentous win against arch-rivals Pakistan in New York. The Men in Blue have continued their dominant run in the T20 event in the Super Eights stage as well as they first beat Afghanistan by 47 runs and then beat Bangladesh by 50 runs on Saturday to clear their road to the semis. It looks like a mere formality for India to qualify for the further round considering their soaring net run rate (NRR).
However, it is equally important to know the positions of the fellow teams in the group as their role will indeed impact the qualification scenario of India. Afghanistan beat Australia by 21 runs to register a gigantic win and dented Australia’s hopes of a semifinal berth, rather keeping their hopes alive. This has created a logjam in the Group 1 table rankings as India would have got the qualification had Australia won the game.
As the Afghan bowlers turned the tides against the mighty Australian team to secure a stunning first international victory (against the Aussies), they also derailed India’s chances of making the semifinal in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Australia ended their T20I winning streak at eight wins and have been left in a precarious spot in Super 8 Group 1.
Group 1 table rankings
India sit at the top of the table with two wins from two matches. They also have a massive net run rate of +2.425. Despite their defeat against Afghanistan, Australia sit second in the table with a win from two games. The Afghans have been on a similar run so far but sit third owing to a poor NRR compared to the Kangaroos. Bangladesh acquire the last spot with two losses in two matches.
Team
Matches
Won
Lost
Tied
N/R
NRR
Points
India
2
2
0
0
0
2.425
4
Australia
2
1
1
0
0
0.223
2
Afghanistan
2
1
1
0
0
-0.65
2
Bangladesh
2
0
2
0
0
-2.489
0
How can India qualify for the T20 WC semifinal?
Keeping in account their superior NRR, India have very less to bother about to make it into tyhe semifinal of the T20 showpiece for the secnd time in a row. While even a no result could see India cruise to the penultimate round of the tournament, a defeat against Australia in St. Lucia on Monday too is very unlikely to impact their odds unless the Aussies secure a giant win to counter them on the NRR. Similar would be the case for Afghanistan which take on Bangladesh next.
Mathematically putting it all together, India can only miss out on a semifinal berth if Australia abnd Afghanistan win their final Super 8 matches by a margin of more than 120 runs.
India are all but qualified for the semifinals and have every less to worry about after being on a stellar run in the T20 World Cup 2024. Here’s what they need to do storm into the penultimate stage of the T20 showpiece. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
