As India prepares for its do or die t20 world cup 2026 super 8 The threat of rain looms over the clash against West Indies at the iconic Eden Gardens on Sunday, March 1, effectively a virtual quarterfinal. Both teams have two points each in Group 1, with the winner securing a place in the other semi-final alongside already qualified South Africa. But what if Kolkata’s weather intervenes?
ICC rules for canceled Super 8 matches
As per standard ICC tournament playing conditions, if a Super 8 match is abandoned due to rain or any other reason resulting in a ‘no result’, the points are divided equally between the two competing teams. Importantly, there is no reserve day allotted for Super 8 matches – only the semi-finals and finals have this provision.
In such a situation, both India and West Indies will get one point each. At present, both the teams have two points each, if the match is canceled then their three points each will be equal in the final standings.
India or West India – which team will reach the semi-finals?
When teams are level on points, net run rate (NRR) becomes the primary tiebreaker to determine qualification. This is where the math turns decisively against the defending champions.
next India wins by 72 runs over Zimbabwe in Chennai His NRR on February 26 is -0.100. West Indies have maintained a healthy NRR of +1.791 despite losing to South Africa by nine wickets.
If the match is washed out and both teams finish with three points, West Indies will advance to the semi-finals based on their better NRR, knocking India out of their home World Cup.
Meanwhile, South Africa have already booked their place in the semi-finals after beating West Indies by nine wickets and will top the group if they avoid defeat against Zimbabwe in Delhi on Sunday.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2026 – India vs West Indies Super 8 Ticket Prices, Booking Details
Weather forecast for Kolkata on March 1
Luckily for millions of Indian fans hoping for a decisive clash, weather reports for Kolkata on match day indicate favorable conditions for cricket.
Forecasters predict sunny and clear skies with no significant chance of rainfall during match hours. The temperature is expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius during the day, which will drop to a comfortable 25-26 degrees Celsius by match time. The toss is scheduled for 6:30 PM IST, play will start at 7:00 PM IST under Eden Gardens floodlights.
Dew is expected to play a role in the evening, potentially making it harder for bowlers to hold the ball and encouraging captains to chase the target after winning the toss. However, with no chance of rain in the forecast, the semi-finalists must be determined through on-field competition rather than technical rules.
The upcoming India vs West Indies encounter marks their first T20 World Cup meeting in almost a decade, with the Caribbean team winning their previous tournament encounter. West Indies will be looking to win the T20 World Cup for the first time since their 2016 victory.
For India, the equation is cruel but clear: win and advance to the semi-finals, or face elimination on home soil. With clear skies predicted, the defending champions have every chance to control their destiny.
