Afghanistan’s win over Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup has opened up Group 1, with all four teams, along with India and Bangladesh - standing a chance to make it to the semi-finals.
India have two wins from as many games in the Super Eight and are almost secure of a semi-final spot courtesy of a strong Net Run Rate (+2.425). However with Afghanistan and Australia with a win each and Bangladesh also in the fray, an exciting few days await as the race for the top four continues. In the second group too, three teams are vying for two spots, with West Indies and South Africa potentially playing a virtual knockout game on Sunday night.
Read: Super Eights Group 2 scenarios: What England, South Africa, West Indies need for semi-finals
Meanwhile, the remaining games in Group 1 are India-Australia and Afghanistan-Bangladesh, the results of which will determine the sides that qualify.
2024 Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eights Group 1 points table after AUS v AFG
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | Net Run Rate |
| India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +2.425 |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.223 |
| Afghanistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.650 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.489 |
What does India need to qualify?
India’s fortunes are in their own hands as a win against Australia, on Monday, will certainly take them through to the semi-final. Rohit Sharma’s team currently have four points and are the only team in their group that can reach six points, with Afghanistan and Australia dropping a game each.
A loss against Australia will make it interesting. They have the best NRR among all sides in their group and a narrow defeat should still allow them to qualify. Unless they lose by a big margin, and drop their NRR, and Afghanistan defeat Bangladesh handsomely to increase theirs, India should qualify.
The aim for the team, however, would not just be qualification. With no reserve day for the second semi-final that India will play if they make it through, the team that finishes higher in the Super Eight points table will advance to the final in case of a washout. They will be those eyeing six points.
What does Australia need to qualify?
Australia’s Net Run Rate has taken a fall after their defeat to Afghanistan and they will hope to win as convincingly as possible against India. A win will still not assure them of a semi-final berth as Afghanistan will play after them and will be aware of the exact scenario they will need. However, they should fancy their chances despite the loss, with a relatively higher Net Run Rate than Afghanistan’s. A loss for Afghanistan against Bangladesh will see Australia advance to the semi-finals.
If they lose to India, a win for Afghanistan against Bangladesh will knock them out. If both Afghanistan and Australia lose, it will come down to Net Run Rate.
What does Afghanistan need to qualify?
All eyes will be on Afghanistan’s clash with Bangladesh as Rashid Khan’s team eye their first-ever semi-final spot in any ICC event. Their best-case scenario is a defeat for Australia against India, leaving them on two points. Afghanistan will then just need to win against Bangladesh without worrying about the margin, to qualify.
They will be knocked out if Australia win and they lose to Bangladesh. If they win against Bangladesh, it will come down to Net Run Rate.
What does Bangladesh need to qualify?
Bangladesh need an improbable scenario to qualify. They currently have the worst Net Run Rate among all four teams in the group and will need India to massively beat Australia and then hope they do the same against Afghanistan.
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