The echoes of past battles still linger, the sting of defeats not quite forgotten, and the elation of victories still fresh. The group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup has concluded, leaving behind a trail of thrilling encounters and surprising results. But the journey isn’t over yet. Eight teams—India, Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, England, South Africa, USA, and the West Indies—have earned their right to stand tall in the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8.
This isn’t just about qualification; it’s about redemption, about rewriting narratives, and about settling scores. Some teams will face familiar foes, a chance to avenge past losses or solidify dominance. Others will forge new rivalries, their paths colliding in a quest for ultimate glory.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and the USA, the underdogs who defied expectations, have booked their spots in the Super 8. Meanwhile, powerhouses like Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka have been sent packing. Can these surprise packages continue their Cinderella runs, or will the established powers reign supreme?
The Super 8 promises to answer these burning questions. Join us for an in-depth exploration of dates, schedules, and groups—everything you need to know about the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8!
The Super 8 Teams
The eight teams divided into two groups of four are:
- Group 1: India, Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan
- Group 2: England, South Africa, USA, West Indies
The Super 8 Schedule
Just like the group stage, each team within a group will play each other once. The top two teams from both groups will progress to the semi-finals. Here’s the complete schedule for the Super 8 stage:
Group 1:
- June 20: Afghanistan vs India, Bridgetown, Barbados
- June 20: Australia vs Bangladesh, North Sound, Antigua
- June 22: India vs Bangladesh, North Sound, Antigua
- June 22: Afghanistan vs Australia, Arnos Vale, St Vincent
- June 24: Australia vs India, Gros Islet, St Lucia
- June 24: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Arnos Vale, St Vincent
Group 2:
- June 19: USA vs South Africa, North Sound, Antigua
- June 19: England vs West Indies, Gros Islet, St Lucia
- June 21: England vs South Africa, Gros Islet, St Lucia
- June 21: USA vs West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados
- June 23: USA vs England, Bridgetown, Barbados
- June 23: West Indies vs South Africa, North Sound, Antigua
A Look Back at Each Team’s Journey to the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8
India (Group A)
India’s path to the Super 8 has been a masterclass in resilience and adaptability. They boast an undefeated record, winning three out of four matches, with one abandoned due to rain. A nail-biting victory against Pakistan, a game they were almost out of, showcased their mental toughness and strategic brilliance.
With the bat, India displayed a well-rounded performance. While Rishabh Pant leads the run-scorers with 96 runs, each match saw a different hero emerge. Rohit Sharma anchored the chase in the first game with an unbeaten 52 off 37 balls. Pant counter-attacked brilliantly against Pakistan with a 42 off 31. Surya Kumar Yadav surprised everyone with a composed 50 off 49 to rescue India from a tricky situation against the USA.
On the bowling front, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya are the leading wicket-takers with seven each. However, Jasprit Bumrah was the real difference-maker, bagging the Player of the Match award in both the Ireland and Pakistan games with his match-winning spells.
USA (Group A)
The underdog story of the tournament belongs to the USA, who have made it to the Super 8 from Group A alongside India. Their campaign began with a sensational win, chasing down a huge total of 195 against Canada. Spearheading this chase was Aaron Jones, with a jaw-dropping 94 off just 40 balls. But the true fairytale moment came against Pakistan. Defending 19 runs in the Super Over, they secured a victory that will be forever remembered as a giant-killing feat in cricket history. Though they fell to India, the USA team displayed remarkable fighting spirit. Their final group game against Ireland was abandoned, which ultimately proved to be a lucky break as a loss could have derailed their Super 8s qualification.
Australia (Group B)
Riding high on their white-ball dominance over the past few years, Australia has stormed into the Super 8 with an immaculate 4-0 record. As reigning champions of both the 50-over World Cup and Test Championship, they carry the aura of invincibility. Leading the spin attack is Adam Zampa, currently the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker (and Australia’s top wicket-taker) with an impressive nine scalps. With the bat, Marcus Stoinis (156 runs in 3 innings) and Travis Head (148 runs in 4 innings) have been in stellar form, providing a well-balanced batting attack. But Australia’s true strength lies in their exceptional teamwork. Their ability to rise as a single unit on the biggest stages is what propelled them through the group stage. Australia looks like one of the most well-oiled and complete teams in the competition.
England (Group B)
England’s World Cup campaign got off to a shaky start. The Scotland match was abandoned due to rain, and Australia handed them a hefty defeat. Qualification for the Super 8s appeared unlikely. However, they pulled off a remarkable turnaround, crushing Namibia and Oman by huge margins to leapfrog Scotland on net run rate. A major concern remains – a lack of consistent batting with big scores. However, there are positive signs: Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow rediscovered their form with excellent knocks against Namibia. With the bowling attack, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid emerged as the leading wicket-takers for England in the group stage, each claiming five scalps.
Afghanistan (Group C)
Afghanistan has been a revelation in this year’s T20 World Cup. While their qualification for the Super 8s isn’t necessarily an upset, their dominant performances have surprised everyone. They crushed Uganda in their opening match and then stunned New Zealand with a historic victory. A convincing win over Papua New Guinea secured their spot in the next stage, and they still have a match against West Indies to round out the group. Leading the charge for Afghanistan are Fazalhaq Farooqi, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the highest run-scorer with 167. Remarkably, both the top bowler and batsman in the T20 World Cup so far hail from Afghanistan.
West Indies (Group C)
Despite heavy criticism following their last T20 World Cup absence, the West Indies have silenced the doubters. Playing at home in the Caribbean, they’ve thrived under the pressure, becoming the second team from Group C to qualify for the Super 8s. Their success is a testament to a well-rounded batting performance, while Alzarri Joseph and Akeal Hosein have spearheaded the bowling attack with 8 and 7 wickets, respectively. Coach Darren Sammy and Captain Rovman Powell deserve credit for their role in orchestrating this impressive turnaround.
South Africa (Group D)
South Africa has emerged as a strong contender, living up to their pre-tournament favorites tag with a dominant 4-0 record. Their World Cup journey began with a convincing win over Sri Lanka, followed by a nail-biting victory against the Netherlands, thanks to a David Miller masterclass. In another close encounter, they defended a modest total of 114 against Bangladesh. Their most recent match against Nepal was a tense affair, with South Africa securing a narrow one-run victory. While individual brilliance hasn’t been the sole factor, team effort has been key to their success. Anrich Nortje has been their bowling spearhead, claiming nine wickets – the most for South Africa and the second-highest overall in the tournament.
Bangladesh (Group D)
Bangladesh secured the final spot in the Super 8s, boasting a record of 3 wins and one loss. While their group may not have been the most challenging, their performance deserves credit. They possess the firepower to upset any team, including Australia and India. Shakib Al Hasan has rediscovered his form in recent games, their pace attack is firing on all cylinders, and the spin department looks particularly threatening. Leading the bowling charge for Bangladesh is Tanzim Hasan Sakib with an impressive haul of nine wickets.
Every Match a Pressure Cooker
The group stage has delivered drama, dominance, and unexpected twists. Now, with eight teams remaining, the stakes are higher than ever. The Super 8 promises to be an epic battleground, where underdogs clash with titans and past glories meet fresh challenges.
Will established powerhouses like India and Australia maintain their dominance? Can surprise packages like Afghanistan and the USA continue their Cinderella runs? Every match from here on out is crucial, every run counts, and every wicket is a turning point.
So, gear up for exhilarating cricket as the Super 8 unfolds! We’ll witness champions rise, hearts break, and history rewritten. Don’t miss a single moment of this electrifying journey to the T20 World Cup title!