India A In Must-Win Situation: Qualification Scenarios Explained

It was a heartbreaking loss for India A after an epic contest with Sri Lanka A that went into a Super Over following a thrilling tie in Dambulla. Controversy surrounded the close of play as a disputed no ball call took place.

The loss is a severe blow for Tilak Varma led India A as they missed out on a great opportunity to cement their position in the points table. With just one league match to play India A are at a must win stage if they are to stand a chance of making it to the final of the Tri-Nation A Series.

India A started the tournament with a bang by defeating Sri Lanka A. However they have struggled against Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A with defeats in those matches. India A have had one win in their three games played and are sitting second on the table.

Their final league stage match of the tournament is against Afghanistan A on June 17. This match will play a pivotal role in determining India A's fate in the Tri Nation A Series.

India A Must Beat Afghanistan A to Stay Alive

The scenario for qualification is straightforward for India A if they fail to beat Afghanistan A in their next game then it will mark the end of India A's tournament.

If they fall to a loss then their tournament tally will be one win out of four. This would leave India A at the bottom of the table with no chance of securing a spot in the final.

In addition this match presents India A with an opportunity for redemption after going down against Afghanistan A in their first encounter. A second loss to the same opponents will formally put an end to their hopes for the final.

However a victory will give them a chance to finish with two wins out of four games and give them a realistic chance of making it to the final. India A must produce a win against the same opponent in order to extend their tournament journey beyond the league stage.

Net Run Rate Could Be Crucial

If India A do win against Afghanistan A, qualification might not be solely in their hands.

The fate of India A could also depend on the result between Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A. If Afghanistan A go on to beat Sri Lanka A after falling to India A, they will finish on the same points total of two wins with India A.

In that case net run rate will become a deciding factor between India A and Afghanistan A for a spot in the final. India A are currently significantly better off than Afghanistan A with a run rate of +0.330. Afghanistan A sit on -1.392.

This means Afghanistan A will have to achieve a substantial victory against Sri Lanka A in order to narrow down the gap and get ahead of India A in the standings. A narrow victory should not be enough. For now though India A have one simple focus and that is to secure a victory against Afghanistan A and achieve two more points before any other factors come into play.

After such a crushing defeat in a Super Over and immense pressure mounting, India A can afford to make no mistakes this match is effectively a knockout fixture and qualification for the Tri-Nation A Series final hangs in the balance.