INDIA TO SEMI FINAL.

How can India qualify for semi final after win against Scotland?

India’s semi-finals qualification scenarios after Afghanistan win.

Opening batsman Rohit Sharma hit a blistering 74 to set up India’s first win at the Twenty20 World Cup with a 66-run drubbing of Afghanistan on Wednesday as Virat Kohli’s team avoided a shock early exit.The Indian batting finally fired with Sharma and KL Rahul, who made 69, putting on 140 for the opening wicket to guide India to 210 for two in their must-win Super 12 game in Abu Dhabi. The tournament’s highest total proved too much for Afghanistan who finished on 144-7 in 20 overs.They still remain in the hunt for the semi-finals along with New Zealand and India. Pakistan have already secured their place in the last-four from the group. With a 66-run win over Afghanistan, India got their Net Run Rate to a positive, from -1.609 to +0.073. But there is still a long way to go for India to qualify for the semis.

Here are the different scenarios for India to qualify for semis:

New Zealand vs Afghanistan match became crucial where India would need to win big against Scotland and Namibia and then hope Afghanistan beat New Zealand. Assuming that New Zealand will beat Namibia, India, New Zealand and Afghanistan, all three will then be on six points and the team with a better run rate will sneak through. This is why winning big against Namibia and Scotland is crucial for India as Afghanistan have a good run rate of +1.481 and New Zealand have a better run rate than India at +0.816.

they would want Namibia to beat New Zealand and New Zealand to beat Afghanistan by a relatively low margin. This will bring India and New Zealand equal on points at 6 if India win against Scotland and Namibia. As New Zealand’s run rate is much lower than Afghanistan’s it would be relatively easier for India to get past their’s run-rate.Assuming that the Kiwis are favourites to beat Namibia, If New Zealand beat Afghanistan as well, then India’s campaign will be over as the Kiwis will be having 8 points with those two wins while the maximum points that India can reach are only six.

India v/s Scotland

The T20 World Cup 2021 has been an incredible spectacle for fans so far, with so many twists and turns. From Namibia progressing to Super 12 stages ahead of Ireland and Netherlands to defending champions West Indies getting knocked out, there have been some unexpected outcomes in the tournament. After suffering 2 back-to-back defeats at the hands of Pakistan and New Zealand respectively, Virat Kohli’s side were supposedly down and out. The cricket fraternity left no stone unturned to criticize Team India for their dismal show in the first two games and their chances of going through to semis were almost gone. Practically, the dream of winning their first-ever ICC trophy after 8 years was almost over. But there was still a slight glimmer of hope left. After 2 back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand, India have had a sigh of relief after defeating Afghanistan in a very convincing manner; by 66-run margin.

Now the big question among the Indian fans is— Can India still become the second team from Group 2 to qualify for the semi-final?

Net run rate of India : 0.073
Net run rate of New Zealand : 0.816
Net run rate of Afghanistan : 1.481

India can maximum reach 6 points and definitely one of New Zealand or Afghanistan will reach that 6-point mark given their remaining schedule. New Zealand must lose one of their remaining games to either Namibia or Afghanistan. If New Zealand win both of their remaining games then India will be disqualified automatically.

Remaining schedule for India in Group 2 of T20 World Cup 2021:

New Zealand v/s Namibia and New Zealand v/s Afghanistan

Scenario-1:- If Namibia manage to defeat New Zealand, then on 7th of November New Zealand defeating Afghanistan will make situation better for India as India surpassing the New Zealand’s net run rate will be easier than going past Afghanistan’s.If India manage to defeat their remaining opponents by 40-run margin then their NRR goes close to 0.87 which will help them surpass New Zealand’s net run-rate easily provided if the Kiwis defeat Afghanistan by a very small margin. If India manage to chase both games inside 15.5 overs then their NRR will be 0.837 approximately, assuming India chase a total of 150 runs. New Zealand defeating Afghanistan by a very small margin will be helpful for India to overcome their NRR.
Scenario-2:- If New Zealand defeat Namibia then on 7th of November, Afghanistan must defeat New Zealand for India to have a chance to enter semi-final. For India to have better chance they must hope Afghanistan defeat New Zealand by a very very small margin of either 1 run or chase the target on last ball of the match.Even in a very close margin of win Afghanistan’s net-run rate ends up at 1.172. This one will be likely applicable if Afghanistan manage to win by 9 or lesser runs. For India from 0.073 to surpass Afghan’s NRR they should win their remaining games by a 60+ run margin which will ensure they have a net run rate of close to 1.3, assuming India bats first and sets target around 180 then they should ensure to get their chase done inside 13 overs as in that case their NRR will be 1.33 approximately, assuming India chase 150 in both games.

The Men in Blue got their campaign back on track with a resounding victory against Afghanistan. Virat Kohli & Co defeated their Asian rivals by 66 runs to register their first victory in the competition. India have the advantage of playing the last game in the group which means when they choose fielding against Namibia, then they will know what they exactly need to do to get over the line. 

New Zealand v/s Afghanistan game will be played a day prior to India v/s Namibia game so the scenario will become even much clear for India on what margin they should beat Namibia.