How can India qualify for Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final after Australia beat New Zealand?

The Indian women’s cricket team registered a vital six-wicket win against Pakistan in their second match of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, to bring their tournament campaign back on track. However, they will continue to hope that the matches end in their favour in order to qualify for the semi-final of the marquee tournament, which is underway in the UAE. 

Although, they would even want other teams’ results to go in their favour to advance in the tournament and keep their maiden title hopes alive. After the completion of ten matches in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, the Women in Blue are placed fourth in the Group A standings, with one win and one loss from their two matches. 

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Group A Points Table

How can India qualify in semi-final of Women’s T20 World Cup 2024?

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will take on Sri Lanka Women on Wednesday, October 9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. However, they were dealt with a massive blow as they were handed daunting defeat against New Zealand, they came back in the game, registering a vital six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan Women. 

They would have wanted New Zealand to beat defending champions, Australia, but their qualification to semi-final became more challenging after Australia registered a commanding win against the White Ferns. With a comprehensive defeat, New Zealand dropped to third place in the standings, giving India a ray of hope.  While the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side have to win their remaining matches, against Asian champions, Sri Lanka on Wednesday and Australia on Sunday (October 13), they would want to beat the Lankans in one-sided affair to climb up in the standings and better their Net Run Rate (NRR).

Here is how India Women can seal a spot in the semi-final of Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

Scenario 1: If India wins their next two matches, they will get to six points. However, if New Zealand also wins their remaining matches, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Australia defeat Pakistan, all three teams (India, New Zealand and Australia) will end up at six points each. In such a case, the NRR will decide which two teams progress into the semi-final.

Scenario 2: Pakistan, who are currently in second place, are also in race to secure a semi-final spot. They would need to beat both New Zealand and Australia to finish on six points. If they beat them, and India also beats Australia and Sri Lanka, then India and Pakistan will qualify for the semi-final from Group A.

Scenario 3: If Australia continues their winning runs, there could be a probability of India, Pakistan and New Zealand finishing with four points each. In this case, NRR will decide the second semi-finalist from Group A.