India have had a disastrous run in the T20 World Cup 2021 so far. After brushing aside the England and Australia challenge in the warm-ups, they went down to Pakistan by 10 wickets in their first Super 12 encounter in Dubai. They got a week’s break and if fans thought that it would energize them, they were completely wrong. Virat Kohli and co came up with an equally listless performance to go down to New Zealand by eight wickets without putting up even an iota of a fight.
With the loss, India find itself at the fifth position in the Group 2 points table. Pakistan are on top with three wins from as many games followed by Afghanistan, who have won two out of three. The Kiwis are in the third position with one win and one loss. Although things are looking very bleak for India, there are still a few ways that India can make the semis although the path is a rather complicated one. Take a look at the possible scenarios.
Afghanistan beating New Zealand: The best possible scenario for India
First and foremost, India must win all their remaining games with huge margins to boost their atrocious net run rate. Following the eight-wicket loss to New Zealand, India’s net run-rate collapsed to -1.609. They are only above Scotland in the Group 2 points table as of now. India’s next three matches will be against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia. Even if they win all three games by massive margins, they won’t be assured of a semis berth.
For India to qualify, New Zealand will have to lose to Afghanistan. Assuming India wins all their remaining games by comprehensive margins and they finish equal on points with New Zealand and Afghanistan (6 points), India can still go through if they have the better run rate among the three sides.
What if Afghanistan lose to New Zealand?
In case Afghanistan lose to New Zealand, it will be all but curtains for India. Their Kiwis’ other two games would be against Scotland and Namibia, which they are expected to win. That would put them on eight points and knock India out. Miraculously, if New Zealand falter against either Scotland or Namibia and end on six points and India also win their remaining games, Kohli and co could still progress if they have a superior run rate. But expecting that would be akin to building a castle in the air.
The impractical scenario
The third scenario, which is even more impractical than the second, is New Zealand losing at least two of their remaining three games against Namibia and Scotland, Afghanistan. If that somehow happens and India win all their remaining matches, the Kiwis will end on four points. Afghanistan’s last two matches are against India and New Zealand. If Afghanistan are one of the teams to beat New Zealand and go down to India, that will leave India and Afghanistan on six points and, assuming India have a better run-rate, they will go through. But that is least likely to happen.
India’s remaining matches
Vs Afghanistan, November 3
Vs Scotland November 5
Vs Namibia November 8
New Zealand’s remaining matches
Vs Scotland, November 3
Vs Namibia, November 5
Vs Afghanistan, November 7
Afghanistan’s remaining matches
Vs India, November 3
Vs New Zealand, November 7