The last time India lost first two games in an ICC event was all the way back in 1999. It goes without saying that they have come a long way since then, in terms of performance and results. This explains the high level of disappointment among Indian fans and supporters after these two crushing losses.

India are on brink of exiting the T20 World Cup. Even if they win every game from now on, and some doubt if that even is possible, there is a chance that they might be knocked out of the tournament. But that is what it is.

How people look at these things can vary depending on their understanding, and biases. There could be a conversation on how IPL ‘paper tigers’ flopped on the big stage. But their sides packed full of its IPL stars made it to the semi-finals and finals of the last two editions of this tournament. Maybe, they are an ODI outfit masquerading as a T20I side. Then again, it sounds a bit weird that this ODI outfit beat England this year over a five-match series, and whitewashed New Zealand last year.

Perhaps, they didn’t select the best possible side? While one can endlessly debate on the merit of various player combinations, this is also a far-fetched accusation. If anything India packed their side with too many T20 specialists with the likes of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy all included.

Not the most stable side? But isn’t a flexible batting order preferable in this format? Many other sides, including Pakistan, weren’t sure of their exact make-up of their XI a few days before the World Cup.

There’s truth in the fact that India havevn’t done well, but that doesn’t necessarily make them a bad team.

Over the last couple of years, they’ve done well enough to be undefeated for eight T20I series against top quality opposition. Virat Kohli, might not be seen as a T20 run machine right now was good enough to hit four 70-plus scores in his last ten T20I innings leading up to the World Cup.

Rohit Sharma, not in the best form at present, helped India win a super over contest relatively recently when they needed ten off the last two deliveries. There might have been a case for a Prithvi Shaw, but the fact remains that India like most of the other sides, banked on their experienced players.

That it hasn’t click is only half the story, India still has three games in the bank. T20Is are the most fickle of all formats in the international game. A quick-fire thirty here, a double-wicket over there can change the momentum of a game.

Moreover, it can also change the course of a tournament. India had an ordinary start to the 2007 World T20, before Yuvraj Singh’s six hits of glory charged them up. Less than a week later, they were world champions.

While one might say that India’s chances are pretty much dependent on other results, it doesn’t look that improbable on closer inspection. Their main aim should be to defeat a good Afghanistan side, and then look to beat Namibia and Scotland by a big margin.

If India manage to do well on their end, they will place themselves with a good chance of qualifying. Afghanistan have always been a talented side, but have come of age in this tournament. This was shown in the manner in which they fought against Pakistan, and thrashed Scotland and Namibia.

Afghanistan are going to upset one of the big teams this tournament. They held there own last night. #PAKvAFG #T20WorldCup

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) October 30, 2021

Much like Zimbabweans of the 90s, Afghanistan are a dangerous prospect on their own. If they lose against India, they will still have a very good chance of beating New Zealand – a result that will keep India’s hopes alive. All, India need to do for now is get their house in order and win every game before them.

It might seem implausible, but has been done in the past. India managed to enter the next stage of 1999 World Cup – they can do it again here in 2021.