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India Could Miss T20 World Cup Semifinals If This Scenario Unfolds
Shivam Sharma | February 24, 2026 7:11 PM CST

West Indies sit at the top with 2 points and a massive net run rate of +5.350, giving them a huge advantage. South Africa are second, also with 2 points and a strong net run rate of +3.800.

India, meanwhile, are third with 0 points and a worrying net run rate of -3.800. Zimbabwe occupy the fourth spot.

Can India Still Qualify?

Mathematically, India are still alive. With two matches remaining - against Zimbabwe (February 26) and West Indies (March 1) - they can reach a maximum of 4 points.

However, just winning may not be enough.

Because of their poor net run rate, India will need convincing, big-margin victories in both their remaining matches. They must boost their NRR to compete with the strong figures of West Indies and South Africa.

Even if India manage to win both games and reach four points, their fate will not be entirely in their own hands.

If West Indies win their remaining two matches, they will finish with 6 points and seal a semi-final berth. In that case, India would need South Africa or Zimbabwe to finish with fewer points - or with a worse net run rate - to stay in contention.

In short, India now require:

Two dominant wins, and

Favorable results in other matches.

At this stage, their semi-final hopes are hanging by a thread and depend heavily on how the remaining Group 1 matches unfold.


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