Super 8 qualification scenarios: Can India be eliminated if they lose today's IND vs AUS 2024 T20 World Cup match?
India and Australia are slated to play the penultimate match of the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Monday, June 24. The two sides will lock horns at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, and the winner of the match will certainly book their spot in the semi-final.
While India are currently unbeaten in Group 1 and also on top of the table with four points from two games, Australia won their contest against Bangladesh before facing a shock defeat against Afghanistan. As a result, the Kangaroos are placed second with two points.
While Afghanistan too are tied with Australia in terms of the number of points, a negative net run rate keeps them in third place on the table. With just two more games remaining in Group 1 fixtures, three teams, including India, are in contention for a final-four spot.
While a victory against Australia would guarantee India a semi-final berth, a loss would lead to the Men in Blue depending on other results to go their way. A victory for Australia would take them to four points, and only the NRR will decide their place on the table.
In case India lose to Australia, they’d want Bangladesh to defeat Afghanistan, which would keep the Rashid Khan-led side in the bottom half of the Group 1 points table. If India and Afghanistan both suffer defeats in their respective encounters, the former will qualify for the semi-finals alongside Australia.
Additionally, India’s NRR is the strongest among all four teams in the group. Hence, even if both Australia and Afghanistan win their respective upcoming matches, India will have a high chance of qualifying given their net run rate of +2.425. Hence, India’s chances of being eliminated from the tournament are very low.
South Africa and England seal semi-final spots from Group 2
All fixtures of Group 2 of Super 8 concluded on Monday, June 24, with South Africa beating co-hosts West Indies and bagging the second semi-final spot. Before the Proteas, defending champions England defeated the USA to confirm their place in the final four.
Bagging seven consecutive wins in the tournament, across the group and Super 8 stages, South Africa remained unbeaten and claimed the top spot in the Group 2 standings. As a result, they will now face the team that finishes second in Group 1.
England, who took up the second spot in the points table with two wins and a defeat, will face Group 1’s toppers.