2024 Women's T20 World Cup qualification scenarios: How can India qualify for semifinals after their 9-run loss to Australia?

India went down to Australia by nine runs in Match 18 of the ICC Women's 2024 T20 World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday, October 13. With the triumph, the Aussies progressed to the semifinals on an unbeaten streak, winning all their four Group A matches.

Batting first after winning the toss, the defending champions put up an impressive total of 151-8 on the board in their 20 overs. Opener Grace Harris top-scored with 40 off 41, while stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath (32 off 26) and the seasoned Ellyse Perry (32 off 23) came up with key contributions. Cameos from Phoebe Litchfield (15* off 9) and Annabel Sutherland (10* off 6) also aided the Aussies.

For India, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (54* off 47) kept her side in the hunt. All-rounder Deepti Sharma (29 off 25) also made a handy contribution, while Shafali Verma scored 20 off 13 at the start. The Aussies were, however, brilliant at the death and stifled the Indian batters.

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India's hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup semifinals now depend on PAK vs NZ game

While the loss to Australia has dealt a massive setback to India's hopes of progressing to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup, they are still in the hunt, but their fortunes are no longer in their hands. The Women in Blue will now have to depend on Pakistan to clinch a place in the top two in Group A.

Since Team India's margin of defeat against Australia was only nine runs, they remain in second position in the Group A points table. Harmanpreet and Co. have four points from four matches, with a net run rate of +0.322.

If Pakistan beat New Zealand on Monday, October 14 in Dubai, India can qualify for the semis on the basis of net run rate. However, if Pakistan win by 53 or more runs (after scoring 150) or chase down the target with more than 9.1 overs remaining, they will progress to the semis of the Women's 2024 T20 World Cup, knocking out both India and New Zealand.

In case, the White Ferns beat Pakistan in Dubai on Monday, they will progress to the semifinals, knocking out both India and Pakistan. In such a scenario, New Zealand will finish the group stage on six points, while India will be stuck on four and Pakistan on two.

So the only way India can reach the semis is if Pakistan beat New Zealand, but not by a big enough margin to surpass their arch-rivals' net run rate.