Can India still qualify for the semi-finals in T20 World Cup? If possible, what are the scenarios?

The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 has been a nightmare for India so far. The Indian cricket team started as the favorites to win the tournament but they are on the verge of an early elimination after playing only two games in the competition.

India are now fifth in Group 2 of Super 12s and only the top two teams will make it to the semi-finals. The defeat against New Zealand has put India on the brink but mathematically they are still alive in the competition. However, to qualify from here, a lot of things have to go in their favour.

Lets have a look at the scenarios:

• First and foremost, India need to win all three of their remaining matches - against Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland - and hope that Afghanistan, New Zealand, or any other team from the group doesn't reach three wins.

• India’s lowly net run rate of -1.609 means they will either have to finish points clear of their rivals for qualification or hope for big margins of victory in the back-end of the tournament to turn that NRR on its head.

• The best chance for India to make it out of the group is for one of the Group 2 qualifiers, Namibia and Scotland, to pull off an upset against New Zealand. Both teams showed their class when making it through Round 1, but have yet to trouble the Test-playing nations during the Super 12 stage.

As mentioned above, India don’t have matters in their own hands anymore. Alongside winning the three games handsomely, they have to pray for other results falling in their favour. As Pakistan’s place in the next stage is pretty certain, New Zealand and Afghanistan are the biggest threat to India.