T20 World Cup 2024: Qualification Scenarios – What does India’s victory over Australia mean for semi-finals race?

Australia vs India. (Source – Getty Images)

On the back of a scintillating knock from captain Rohit Sharma, India defeated arch-rivals Australia by 24 runs on Monday, June 24, at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia. This helped the Men in Blue secure a spot in the semifinals.

Now, there is a three-way tussle for the final semifinal spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup as Australia, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are the three teams in the race. The Aussies had a chance to seal their spot in the semifinals as they would have progressed had they chased down the target of 205 against India inside 15.3 overs. However, in the end, they were restricted to 181/7 in their 20 overs after Travis Head top-scored with a 43-ball 76.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Can India overcome 2022 horror against England in semi-finals?

In the first innings, Rohit played an epic knock of 92 runs off 41 balls to set up the platform for a mammoth total for the Indian team. Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya played handy knocks to take India beyond the 200-run mark.

After this defeat, Australia will have to wait for the result of the Afghanistan versus Bangladesh clash, which would determine their fate in the marquee event. If Bangladesh can win by at least 61 runs (considering they score 160 in the first innings) or chase any target set by Afghanistan in 13 overs, they will progress to the semis. However, if the Bangla Tigers win by less than 61 runs (considering the first innings score is 160) or in more than 13 overs, the Aussies go through. Afghanistan, meanwhile, have the least complicted equation in front of them. They can reach the semis by beating Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men.

Also Read: Afghanistan are very strong, probably should have won against us in ODI World Cup too: Usman Khawaja

Australia are currently placed at No. 2 in Group 1 of the Super Eights, having garnered two points from three games with a net run-rate (NRR) of -0.331. On the other hand, Afghanistan are stationed at No. 3, with two points from as many games and an NRR of -0.650. Bangladesh are yet to win a game, having lost two in two and have a dismal NRR of -2.489.