India cricketers during a practice session. (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: The real World Cup has begun for India, and suddenly, nothing is in their control anymore. A crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in Ahmedabad has pushed the hosts and defending champions into a virtual knockout phase, starting with their must-win Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The heavy loss, combined with West Indies’ massive 107-run win over Zimbabwe, has severely dented India’s semi-final hopes. More worrying than the defeat itself is the net run rate (NRR) damage. India’s NRR has plummeted to -3.800, leaving them far behind West Indies (+5.350) and South Africa (+3.800) in Group 1.With only two matches remaining, Suryakumar Yadav’s side not only need to win but win big — and hope other results go their way.

Must-win situation with NRR pressureIndia’s path is straightforward on paper but complicated in reality. They must beat both Zimbabwe and West Indies to reach four points. However, even two wins may not guarantee qualification if net run rate becomes the deciding factor in a three-way tie.If South Africa defeat West Indies and Zimbabwe, both South Africa and India will qualify. But if South Africa lose one match, and three teams finish level on four points, NRR will determine the semifinalists — an area where India currently trail badly.This makes India’s margin of victory crucial. A narrow win over Zimbabwe will not be enough; they need emphatic victories to repair the damage.

What India must do nowThe immediate focus will be on Zimbabwe in Chennai. A dominant win — potentially by 80-100 runs or more — could significantly improve India’s NRR and revive their chances.Their final Super 8 clash against West Indies in Kolkata on March 1 could then become a virtual quarterfinal.However, India’s fate will also depend on the South Africa-West Indies result. While those permutations remain out of their hands, India’s task is clear.For the defending champions, survival now depends not just on winning — but on winning big.