What India needs to do to qualify

The rain-abandoned game at Centurion has made the situation in group A very interesting.

Pakistan is already through to the semi-finals. Australia is almost there and India is almost out of the tournament.

Still there is a remote possibility that India can qualify for the semi-finals. For that India has to rely upon arch-rival Pakistan.

If Pakistan loses to Australia, the latter will top the group.

Pakistan will end up on the second place and these two will go into the semi-finals.

If the match between Pakistan and Australia is washed out or ends in a tie, Pakistan will top the group, while Australia will remain at the second place and these two teams will reach the semifinals in that order.  

There is only one way in which India can still qualify for the semi-final. This is possible only if Pakistan beats Australia and then India beats West Indies.

In such an eventuality, both India and Australia will be equal on the points and net run-rate will come into play.

Australia currently has a NRR of +1.00, while India has a rather poor NRR of -1.08.

However, a defeat against Pakistan will bring Australia's NRR down. On the other hand, India's NRR will go up with a win against West Indies.

India will, however, need to ensure that they register a big win against West Indies.

What exactly is the equation for India then?

If both Pakistan and India bat first, the equation is pretty simple as mentioned below:

If Pakistan beats Australia by 1 run,  India will need to beat West Indies by 104 runs

If Pakistan beats Australia by 20 runs, India will need to beat West Indies by 85 runs

If Pakistan beats Australia by 50 runs, India will need to beat West Indies by 55 runs

If Pakistan beats Australia by100 runs, India will need to beat West Indies by 5 runs

However, the equation becomes much complicated if both Pakistan and India bat second.

In such a scenario, India's chase will depend upon the number of overs Pakistan takes to reach the target against Australia.

While it is impossible to tell in how many overs India will have to reach the target (because of various permutations and combinations), we can give you an approximate figure.

If Pakistan beats Australia with one over to spare, India will need to reach the target as follows:

If West Indies scores 100, India will need to win in nearly 28 overs

If West Indies scores 150, India will need to win in nearly 30 overs

If West Indies scores 200, India will need to win in nearly 32 overs

If West Indies scores 250, India will need to win in nearly 33 overs

If West Indies scores 300, India will need to win in nearly 35 overs

If Pakistan beats Australia with five overs to spare, India will need to reach the target as follows:

If West Indies scores 100, India will need to win in nearly 32 overs

If West Indies scores 150, India will need to win in nearly 34 overs

If West Indies scores 200, India will need to win in nearly 36 overs

If West Indies scores 250, India will need to win in nearly 37 overs

If West Indies scores 300, India will need to win in nearly 38 overs

If Pakistan beats Australia with 10 overs to spare, India will need to reach the target as follows:

If West Indies scores 100, India will need to win in nearly 40 overs

If West Indies scores 150, India will need to win in nearly 41 overs

If West Indies scores 200, India will need to win in nearly 42 overs

If West Indies scores 250, India will need to win in nearly 42 overs

If West Indies scores 300, India will need to win in nearly 43 overs

This is also in India's favour that it will play against West Indies later in the day and will be aware of the equation all the time.

If Australia loses to Pakistan, there will be a lot of interest in India-West Indies encounter.

If, however, Australia beats Pakistan, Indian players can start packing their bags in the middle of their match against West Indies!