Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium set the stage for an intriguing T20 World Cup encounter as India seized the advantage by winning the toss against Netherlands and choosing to set a target. This Group A showdown marks the 36th game of the 2026 edition, with Rohit Sharma’s men tweaking their squad twice for optimal balance.
The spotlight fell on the inclusions of pacer Arshdeep Singh in place of spinner Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Washington Sundar replacing Axar Patel. Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the pitch conditions: ‘Looks like a belter for batting. We aim to build a challenging score and let our bowlers defend it. Team morale is sky-high.’
On the flip side, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards admitted he’d have batted too. ‘Great wicket out there. We’re focused on finishing strong, no regrets—just full effort,’ he noted, with one alteration to their playing eleven.
With Super 8 qualification secured via emphatic victories—beating USA by 29 runs, Namibia by 93, and Pakistan by 61—India rides a wave of confidence. Netherlands, struggling with two defeats from three outings, looks to salvage pride from fourth place.
Full India XI: Ishan Kishan (keeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
Netherlands lineup: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (wk/captain), Jake Lion-Cachet, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Noah Croes.
Expect fireworks as India’s batting firepower meets Netherlands’ resolve in what could be a one-sided affair, underscoring the tournament’s competitive edge.