India's chances of winning the semi-final against New Zealand get difficult due to rain

India’s chances of winning the semi-final will get stiffer if the match is delayed for more time. India will have to chase their calculated target in fewer overs and with high run-rate. Cricket expert Harsha Bhogle tweeted that the shorter the game the more difficult it will be for India.

Bhogle in his tweet wrote, “The shorter the game, the stiffer run-rate India will have to achieve. If it is a 20 over game now, the target would be 148. If, however, it becomes a 46 over game and India bat 20 overs, the target then will actually be just about 60-70 for no loss.”

Harsha explained his point further, “Because you will have 10 wickets in hand when you start chasing the 20 over the target. DLS calculates resources available. And so if you start on the assumption that it is 46 overs, then it gets aborted, the par score will only be 60-70 for no loss.”

India lost the toss against New Zealand and was asked to field first. Indian bowlers did a good job in restricting New Zealand to 211-5 in 46.1 overs before rain interrupted the match. New Zealand batsman played very slowly in the first 25 overs after they lost Martin Guptill quickly.

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