India confirmed their place in the Super Eight with a commanding victory over the Netherlands in their final Group ‘A’ encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Having already secured the top spot in their group, the match was largely a formality, yet India made it a comprehensive 17-run triumph.
Batting first, India posted a competitive 193 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by an explosive 66 from Shivam Dube, who struck 4 boundaries and 6 sixes off just 31 deliveries. Early setbacks saw India lose opener Abhishek Sharma for a duck, marking his third consecutive match in this T20 World Cup without scoring—a rare and uncomfortable record for the 25-year-old. Ishan Kishan also fell cheaply, contributing 18 off 7 balls, leaving India at 51/2 at the end of the powerplay.
Recovery came through key partnerships. The third-wicket stand between Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma added 30 runs, while Dube, in tandem with Hardik Pandya, forged a match-defining 76-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Pandya contributed a brisk 30 off 21 balls.
Chasing 194, the Netherlands struggled to build momentum. Their openers, Michael Levit and Max O’Dowd, managed 24 and 20 respectively, while the third-wicket pairing of Colin Ackermann and Aryan Dutt added 43 before India’s bowlers struck decisively. Varun Chakravarthy dismantled the middle order with two wickets in consecutive balls, while Dube also claimed two scalps.
Dutch top scorer Bas de Leede offered some resistance with 33 runs off 23 balls, but lower-order contributions were insufficient to mount a serious challenge. The Netherlands finished on 176 for 7 after completing their 20 overs.
Key Performances
| Player | Team | Batting | Balls | 4s | 6s | Runs | Bowling | Overs | Runs Conceded | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shivam Dube | India | 66 | 31 | 4 | 6 | – | 2 wickets | – | – | – |
| Hardik Pandya | India | 30 | 21 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Suryakumar Yadav | India | 31 | 27 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Varun Chakravarthy | India | – | – | – | – | – | 3 wickets | 3 | 14 | 3 |
| Aryan Dutt | Netherlands | 19 | – | – | – | – | 2 wickets | 4 | 19 | 2 |
| Bas de Leede | Netherlands | 33 | 23 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
With this win, India finished the group stage with a perfect record of four wins out of four matches. In the Super Eight, they will face South Africa, Zimbabwe, and West Indies. India’s campaign continues on Sunday against the Proteas, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the team.
India’s bowlers, led by Chakravarthy and Dube, ensured there were no nervy moments in the chase, while Dube’s destructive innings underscored India’s batting depth. The victory also highlighted India’s ability to recover from early setbacks, demonstrating both resilience and explosive firepower ahead of the Super Eight stage.