The Indian cricket team has bounced back after losing the first two games of the present T20 World Cup 2021 against Pakistan and New Zealand to reach the semi-finals of the high-octane event. Virat Kohli and his team have made a strong statement by defeating Afghanistan and Scotland by a large margin.
Following a spectacular 66-run victory over Afghanistan, India put up an even more commanding performance against Scotland, winning with 81 balls to spare to claim the highest NRR in the group.
India’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals, on the other hand, are not in their control. The fight between New Zealand and Afghanistan, which will take place on November 7 in Abu Dhabi, will be the centre of attention.
If the Afghanistan cricket team wins, India’s chances of reaching the semi-finals improve; but, if the New Zealand cricket team wins, they would qualify for the semi-finals and India’s ambitions will be smashed. With Afghanistan defeating New Zealand, India will have a chance to defeat Namibia by a particular margin in order to advance to the final four and eventually the semi-finals.
Jadeja gave a befitting reply to a journalist
Ravindra Jadeja, a left-arm spinner, was India’s most effective bowler. His superb statistics of 3/15 from four overs assisted the Men In Blue in reducing the Scottish batting line-up to 85 runs.
Meanwhile, during the post-match press conference about upcoming Afghanistan vs New Zealand match and India’s chances of making it to the semi-finals, India’s star all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, who was adjudged the player of the match in the game against Scotland, was confronted with a question about qualifying into semi-finals.
One of the journalists, though, asked him what the squad would do if New Zealand won the match. The reporter inquired,
“Abhi baatein chal rahi hain ki agar New Zealand Afghanistan se haar jaata hai to humara chance banega. But agar NZ haarta hi nahi hai to kya karenge?”
In response, Jadeja responded with a hilarious reply to the journalist. Here is what he said:
“Toh phir bag pack kar ke ghar jayenge aur kya (Then, we will pack our bags and go home, what else)”
Watch the video below
साफ-सुधरी बात 🤷 #T20WorldCup21 #AfgvsNZ #RavindraJadeja pic.twitter.com/6yRDRBLu3i
— Santosh Gangwar (@21SantoshG) November 6, 2021
From the start on Friday, everything came into place wonderfully for India. Virat Kohli ultimately won the toss and elected to bat first, and India controlled the game from there on end.
As Scotland was skittled out for 85 in 17.4 overs, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja each got three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah got two. Only four Scottish players scored in the double digits.
India got off to a flying start with KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, who put up 70 runs for the first wicket in just 30 balls. In India’s whirlwind job, Rahul hammered a 19-ball 50 and Rohit blasted 30 runs off 16 balls.
India reached the mark in just 39 balls, thanks to Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Kumar’s last-minute effort.
After the India-Scotland encounter, it’s all down to the New Zealand-Afghanistan match on Sunday afternoon at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium, and the Kiwis’ calculation is very simple. Only one win will advance them into the next round. Kane Williamson and his teammates will finish second in Group 2 if they win this game, and they will join Pakistan in the semi-final race with eight points.
However, if Afghanistan wins, all three teams (Afghanistan, New Zealand, and India) will be tied on six points. It will then come down to the net run rate, and if the Bluecaps beat Namibia in their final Super 12 game with a significantly higher NRR, they will advance to the next round.
India would be praying that Afghanistan defeats New Zealand on Sunday since this would be a major help to them.