T20 World Cup: India staring at league stage exit

Dubai: Their campaign taking another hit with a second successive defeat, India will need to win all their remaining matches while hoping that other results go their way to keep their semifinal prospects alive in the T20 World Cup.

India and New Zealand were locked in a virtual quarter-final, from which the latter emerged triumphant following a convincing eight-wicket win, seven days after Virat Kohli’s men suffered a 10-wicket drubbing to arch-rivals Pakistan.

Virat Kohli’s men would now pray that Afghanistan beat New Zealand and India win their remaining three fixtures against Scotland, Namibia, and Afghanistan.

With the Indians scheduled to play the last game of the league stage, against Namibia, they might get an opportunity to improve their net run rate, provided other results favor them.

The loss against the Kiwis has pushed India on the brink of a league stage exit though technically they are still not out.

Pakistan has finished three big games and is expected to thrash Scotland and Namibia in their coming fixtures.

In the six-team Group 2, India is currently struggling at fifth place with two losses after as many matches. Pakistan leads the group with three wins in as many outings and they are followed by Afghanistan with two wins and a loss from three matches, and New Zealand in third place with a win and loss from two games.

Given Afghanistan’s potent spin attack, decent batting, and most importantly, their penchant for standing up to the bigger teams, they will be India’s bet against the New Zealanders. The Afghans came close to winning their match against Pakistan before Asif Ali’s blitz put paid to their hopes.