India started the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup looking completely unstoppable. They easily topped their group without losing a single game and looked ready to lift the trophy.

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But things changed very quickly last night. The Men in Blue faced a truly humiliating loss against South Africa—the exact same team they beat in the 2024 final. Chasing 188 runs, India’s batting simply fell apart, and they were bowled out for a shocking 111.

This embarrassing defeat puts the team in a very dangerous spot. India is now sitting at the absolute bottom of Group 1. Worse still, their Net Run Rate (NRR) in the Super 8 table took a massive hit, dropping down to a painful -3.800.

So, can they still make it to the semi-finals? Yes, but there is zero room for mistakes. Here is what needs to happen in their group with South Africa, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe:

  1. Must-Win Games: India absolutely must win their next two matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.
  2. Fixing the Run Rate: Just winning is not enough anymore. Because of the huge loss, they need to win by big margins to repair their badly damaged NRR.
  3. The Math: The easiest way forward is if South Africa wins all their matches to finish first. India can then safely claim second place. However, if South Africa loses a game, multiple teams could tie on points, and it will all come down to who has the better run rate.

Even though this was a hard blow, the dream is still alive. India has the star players, the loud home crowds cheering them on, and the talent to bounce back and make a wonderful comeback.