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Any team losing three back to back matches in a World Cup would normally be in a spot of bother. However, Harmanpreet Kaur & Co do not need to hit the panic button just yet despite consecutive defeats to South Africa, Australia and England.
And fans, who seem to be having a meltdown on social media, should relax too, because Team India still have their destiny in their own hands. India are currently placed fourth in the eight-team points table with four points after two wins from five matches. Their next opponent is New Zealand, who are placed fifth, and they too are in a similar position, with four points from five matches, including one win and two unfortunate washouts.
If India beat NZ in their penultimate league match at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday, it will make things a lot easier for the hosts as they then face a much lower-ranked Bangladesh in their last league match. Winning both games (vs NZ and Bangladesh) will take India to eight points. Meanwhile, NZ will eventually finish on six points if they lose to India and beat England.
Interestingly, even if India lose to NZ, they can still make the semis. NZ will thus be in fourth position with six points, while India will then drop to fifth. However, if NZ thereafter lose to second-ranked England in their last league match, which is a morning game at Vizag, it will open the door for India to qualify by beating Bangladesh later the same day. In such a scenario, both India and NZ will finish with six points, but since India’s last match against Bangladesh is later, the hosts will know exactly what is needed to overtake NZ when it comes down to net run-rate.
India will bow out of the tournament straightaway only if they lose both their remaining matches (vs NZ and Bangladesh) or if NZ win both their remaining matches (vs India and England).
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