 "Indian cricket team's focus should be on boosting its NRR as they chase the semi-finals at Women's T20 World Cup. Image: PTI")
Only two teams from each group at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will qualify for the semi-finals and India are in a bit of a tricky position, going into their third match of the tournament. India take on Sri Lanka in Dubai on Wednesday in their third encounter after one win and a defeat.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led Team India started their World Cup journey with a disappointing 58-run loss to New Zealand but bounced back with a six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan.
India vs Sri Lanka: 5 things to watch out for
Besides Sri Lanka, they also play defending champions Australia in their final Group A game.
All five teams have played two matches each and have two more to go. At the halfway mark in the group stage, it’s advantage for Australia and Pakistan. While Australia lead the table with two wins, four points, and a positive net run rate (NR) of +2.524, Pakistan are second with two points and an NRR of +0.555.
Group A points table
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +2.524 |
| 2 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.555 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.050 |
| 4 | India | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1.217 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.667 |
If India beat Sri Lanka today (Wednesday), they will jump over Pakistan to the second spot by virtue of having four points but it’s their NRR of -1.217 that is the major concern right now because another win for the Women in Green or even New Zealand will see the Women in Blue drop down in the points table.
Team India target positive NRR
The target for the Women in Blue is not just to win against Sri Lanka but also to boost their NRR with a big margin victory. However, Sri Lanka are not going to be an easy opponent, having defeated India in the Asia Cup 2024 final by eight wickets.
Team India scenarios
Sri Lanka is also the only team with 0 points so far in the group and need to win to stay alive in the competition. It’s also a must-win for India because another defeat could mean an end to their campaign as all teams have two more games to go and New Zealand and Pakistan are in a position to reach six points while Sri Lanka can also get to four points.
If Australia, India, and New Zealand win their remaining matches as expected then it’s quite likely that Australia will qualify as table toppers while India and New Zealand will be tied on points in second position. The team with better NRR will then progress to the semi-finals.
This brings us to the point discussed above: India don’t just need a win but also a big jump in the NRR column.