India is under severe pressure after two opening losses in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. As it stares down an exit from the tournament early, it can still make it to the semis, and here's how.
Former champion India has produced a poor performance so far in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. It has suffered twin opening losses in the Super 12 stage of the tournament. After it initially lost to arch-rival and fellow former champion Pakistan by ten wickets, it succumbed to yet another loss by eight wickets to New Zealand on Sunday.
As a result, India is now more or less staring at an early exit, despite three games in hand. However, it is to be noted that it can still make it to the semis, while it would not entirely rely on the result it produces, but also other results that need to go its way. Here, we present the scenarios India currently has in hand.
Currently, India's best chance is winning all the remaining three games it has in hands, i.e. against Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland. Also, with the matches being against low-key sides, India should likely notch up a comfortable win in the three. Losing either one of them would knock it out of the semis race.
However, even the three wins might not be enough. It also needs to expect both Afghanistan and New Zealand to lose at least one of their remaining matches. Upon this, the net run rate would come into play. But, even that could fall short, as the heavy defeats have densely impacted its NRR, which is down to -1.609, compared to Afghan's +3.097 and Kiwis' +0.765. Thus, India has to win its residual matches by vital margins.
On the other hand, if Afghanistan and New Zealand lose more than one of their remaining matches, while India wins its three, it could give India a better chance at qualification. Thus, clearly, India has lost it upon itself to stand a chance to qualify, while it would be complicated to halt either Afghan or Kiwis. Only a miracle now can save India.