NEW DELHI: India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup are still alive.After beating Bangladesh, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side moved up to second in Group A with six points from four games. Australia leads the group with eight points, while South Africa is third with six points, but with a worse net rate.England became the first team to secure a place in the semi-finals after beating West Indies on Friday. Ireland and Scotland were eliminated in Group B. In Group A, Pakistan and the Netherlands were eliminated.
What India need to do to reach the semi-finals ?
The equation for India is simple.If India beat unbeaten Australia in the final group stage match on Sunday, they will almost certainly qualify for the semi-finals. A win would take India to eight points and their healthy net rate of +2.268 puts them in a strong position ahead of South Africa (+0.734).
What if India lose to Australia?
If India lose to Australia, they will remain on six points.In that case, South Africa can qualify with a win over Bangladesh, as they would move to eight points and finish above India.
Can South Africa overtake India in net turnover rate?
There is one very unlikely situation where South Africa could finish above India even if India beat Australia.If South Africa were to bat first, they would have to beat Bangladesh by around 130-135 runs, depending on the total score. At the same time, India should beat Australia only by a narrow margin of around eight to ten runs.If Bangladesh were to bat first, South Africa would have to chase down the target in around five to six overs while hoping that India do not register a big win over Australia.
A big game awaits
For now, India’s focus is clear. A win against Australia will put Harmanpreet Kaur’s team in a very strong position to reach the semi-finals and continue their impressive campaign.
