Road to ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 semi-finals: What's at stake for India, Pakistan, South Africa and other teams

After Australia's thrilling victory over New Zealand, let's reevaluate the top four race in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023.

World Cup 2023 captains

The ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 has been a rollercoaster ride, witnessing strong teams facing unexpected setbacks and underdogs outshining their potential. While some matches ended as straightforward victories, others brought fans to the edge of their seats with nail-biting finishes.

Amidst the exhilarating drama unfolding in stadiums across India, let's explore the current team standings on the points table, anticipate what lies ahead for these teams, and highlight the expectations for the tournament's remainder.

South Africa

Played 6 | Won 5 | Lost 1 | NRR 2.032

Still to play: New Zealand (November 1), India (November 5), Afghanistan (November 10)

South Africa, a team formerly plagued by the "chokers" label due to their past tournament struggles, currently leads the standings. They have showcased their dominance by consistently setting formidable first-innings totals, securing their first four wins by commanding margins of over 100 runs. Despite a surprising loss to the Netherlands that raised questions about their consistency, their hard-earned victory against Pakistan illustrates their determination to finally reach a World Cup semi-final, an achievement that has remained elusive throughout their history.

India

Played 5 | Won 5 | Lost 0 | NRR 1.353

Still to play: England (today), Sri Lanka (November 2), South Africa (November 5), Netherlands (November 12)

The host nation has virtually secured a place in the semi-finals, having won five consecutive matches. As they prepare to face a struggling England side in Lucknow, India is eager to secure the big "Q". India's winning streak in this tournament has all been achieved while chasing, but in their upcoming clash against the English side, they will take on the challenge of setting a target. New Zealand is the only team that has given India a tough match so far, and they managed to win with two overs to spare and four wickets in hand. The upcoming match against South Africa in Kolkata promises to be a thrilling encounter.

New Zealand

Played 6 | Won 4 | Lost 2 | NRR 1.232

Still to play: South Africa (November 1), Pakistan (November 4), Sri Lanka (November 9)

The BlackCaps came agonizingly close to an extraordinary victory in their pursuit of 389 against Australia in a thrilling match in Dharamsala on Saturday, but they fell just short. New Zealand continues to be a formidable team in this World Cup, even though they have suffered losses in their last two matches against fellow semi-final contenders. Their upcoming match against South Africa in Pune won't be any easier. If they stumble in that match, they might face a tense finish against teams eager for a chance, but the Kiwis have a history of exceeding expectations in global events.

Australia

Played 6 | Won 4 | Lost 2 | NRR 0.970

Still to play: England (November 4), Afghanistan (November 7), Bangladesh (November 11)

Australia's journey in the tournament began with defeats against India and South Africa, but they have since bounced back with four consecutive victories. They are now in a strong position to secure a spot in the semi-finals given their current form. With upcoming matches against opponents they should theoretically defeat, Australia appears poised for another three wins. However, they must be cautious of England, who possess the potential to perform better than their current displays in the tournament suggest.

Sri Lanka

Played 5 | Won 2| Lost 3 | NRR -0.205

Still to play: Afghanistan (tomorrow), India (November 2), Bangladesh (November 6), New Zealand (November 9)

Sri Lanka will be riding high on confidence after a resounding victory over England, heading into their last four matches with momentum. However, they still have significant encounters against India and New Zealand ahead, and the return of seasoned all-rounder Angelo Mathews as an injury replacement will only be an added boost to their squad. With three matches against fellow Asian teams in the future, Sri Lanka has the opportunity to shape their destiny in the tournament.

Pakistan

Played 6 | Won 2 | Lost 4 | NRR -0.387

Still to play: Bangladesh (October 31), New Zealand (November 4), England (November 11)

After an impressive start to the tournament, the Men in Green faced a setback with a loss to India, followed by a heartbreaking one-wicket defeat to South Africa. This string of four consecutive losses has put them in a challenging position. The defeat against Afghanistan, in particular, will surely prove to be quite costly, and their campaign now hinges on mathematical probabilities.

Afghanistan

Played 5 | Won 2 | Lost 3 | NRR -0.969

Still to play: Sri Lanka (tomorrow), Netherlands (November 3), Australia (November 7), South Africa (November 10)

Afghanistan's early setback against Bangladesh placed them at a disadvantage right from the start. Despite subsequent losses to semi-final-bound India and New Zealand, they showcased determination with a convincing victory against England and a successful chase against Pakistan. Their upcoming clash with Sri Lanka will play a vital role in determining the genuine contenders in the tournament.

Netherlands

Played 6 | Won 1| Lost 4 | NRR -1.277

Still to play: Afghanistan (November 3), England (November 8), India (November 12)

Having secured two victories at a World Cup for the first time in history, their recent triumph over Bangladesh was the ideal reaction to a substantial loss to Australia. While not mathematically eliminated from semi-final contention, their chances rely on winning all four remaining matches and favourable outcomes from other teams. Although the task appears challenging, they have reasons to be proud of their campaign, especially after defeating a dominant South Africa earlier in the tournament.

Bangladesh

Played 6 | Won 1| Lost 5 | NRR -1.338

Still to play: Pakistan (October 31), Sri Lanka (November 6), Australia (November 11)

Bangladesh's recent form has been disappointing, as they find themselves on a five-game losing streak after their initial victory against Afghanistan. Although there is still a mathematical possibility of reaching the semi-finals, realistically, chances took a severe hit with their loss to the Netherlands, who have now moved ahead of them in the standings. They must secure victories in all their remaining games (as one more defeat will mathematically end their hopes) and heavily depend on favourable outcomes from other matches.

England

Played 5 | Won 1| Lost 4 | NRR -1.634

Still to play: India (today), Australia (November 4), Netherlands (November 8), Pakistan (November 11)

England's World Cup campaign has been a nightmarish experience so far, and their upcoming clashes against the tournament leaders India and traditional rivals Australia offer little comfort. However, they have recently displayed a more promising performance against the Men in Blue, raising hopes for a potential win. While there's still a slim mathematical chance of making it to the semi-finals, their current form indicates that avoiding the wooden spoon might be a more realistic goal.

Share