Why India Are Still Not Guaranteed Of A Semi-Final Berth In World Cup 2023?

World Cup 2023: Mathematically speaking, India are still not guaranteed of a place in the knockouts stage of the competition.

Mark Wood of England and Shubman Gill of India shake hands following the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and England at BRSABVE Cricket Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Lucknow, India. ( Image Source :Getty Images )

Even though India are currently sitting on the top of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 points table with 12 points from six matches, mathematically they are still not guaranteed of a place in the knockouts stage of the competition. This is because despite them having a hundred per cent winning rate, there could possibly be a scanario where they fail to add any further to their points tally. In such a case, teams like South Africa, Australia, New Zealand as well as Afghanistan can either join them at 12 points.

If five teams are tied at 12 points then it will be the Net Run rate (NRR) which will decide who will head to the semifinals. Hence, with that mathematical possibility means India have not guaranteed themselves a place in the semis. Pakistan, Bangladesh, England and Netherlands, however, can in no way outscore India.



Having said that, India have put one foot in the semis already and given the way they have played, it is only a matter of time before they are assured of place in the final four. Once they reach 14 points, that would be a certainty as only three other teams then can either be at 14 or more points, guaranteeing them of a place in the semis.

WIN by 💯 runs in Lucknow ✅

🔝 of the table with 6⃣ wins in a row!#TeamIndia 🇮🇳#CWC23 | #MenInBlue | #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/oKmCLpCzUt

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 29, 2023

Meanwhile, the Men in Blue are gearing up for their next clash against Sri Lanka which will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 2 (Thursday). The team will then go on to lock horns with South Africa at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata before they play Netherlands in their last match of the round-robin stage at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.