Why India & Australia Will Treat Last Group Games as ‘Must Wins’

Currently, Australia lead the points table with 14 points while India are second with 13 points.

(Photo: AP)

With England beating New Zealand on Wednesday, the semi-final line up for the 2019 edition of the World Cup is more or less decided.

The only things that needs to be figured out is that who will finish at the top of the points table – Australia or India. Currently, Australia lead the points table with 14 points after 8 matches while India are second with 13 points from as many matches.

As India play Sri Lanka and Australia take on South Africa on Saturday - the last day of the league stage, a clearer picture of the points table can be expected. Depending upon the result of these matches, let’s take a look at the four scenarios that might play out when the two table toppers play on Saturday:

India Win & Australia Lose

If India beat Sri Lanka and Australia lose to South Africa, then Team India will move to the top of the table with 15 points from 9 matches while Australia will remain on 14 points to take the second spot.

Both India & Australia Win

If both India and Australia win their last league encounters, then there will be no change on the points table as Australia will continue to top the table with 16 points while India will be second with 15 points

Australia Win & India Lose

Again, if Australia beat South Africa and Sri Lanka manage to stage an upset against India, the points table will remain unaffected as Australia maintain their lead at the top with 16 points while India remain second with 13 points.

Both India & Australia Lose

If both South Africa and Sri Lanka manage to beat Australia and India respectively the points table again remains unaffected. Australia remain at the top with 14 points while India have to be content taking the second spot with 13 points.