Ahmedabad, Feb 18 – Varun Chakravarthy's 3-14 and a stellar all-round performance from Shivam Dube (66 & 2-35) helped India maintain their winning momentum, extending it to 12 matches after defeating the Netherlands by 17 runs in the 36th match of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
The Netherlands started strongly in Group A, chasing 194 as openers Michael Levitt and Max O'Dowd added 35 runs in the first five overs. India eventually dismissed Levitt, with Varun Chakravarthy delivering a precise delivery that hit O'Dowd's leg stump. The Netherlands' top run-scorer in T20Is faced a challenging game, finishing with only 45 runs in four matches.
Hardik Pandya then stepped up to provide another breakthrough, as Michael Levitt (24) was dismissed trying to pull a shot. Pandya bowled a short-pitched delivery outside off and made O'Dowd mis-hit the ball, which went towards deep mid-wicket. Washington Sundar cleverly anticipated the shot and caught it, maintaining his balance and executing a brilliant catch.
Earlier, after electing to bat, India lost Abhishek Sharma early, who was dismissed on his third consecutive duck of the tournament. Aryan Dutt then struck twice early on, dismissing both Sharma and Ishan Kishan (18 off 17) with excellent off-spin in the Powerplay. Ishan showed promise with a few solid hits and added 39 runs with Tilak Varma (31) before being dismissed.
Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav then took control of the innings, adding 30 runs. Varma attempted a big shot over long-off, but Roelof van der Merwe made a full-stretched dive to complete the catch.
Skipper Suryakumar then opened his innings with a signature 'Supla' shot off de Leede in the 12th over, and Shivam Dube then took charge of power-hitting in the very next over.
Colin Ackermann, bowling the 13th over, was dismissed by Dube with two maximums on the leg side and a boundary, scoring 19 runs in the over.
Just when it seemed like the hosts were gaining momentum with Suryakumar and Dube launching a counterattack, the Netherlands responded fiercely with the dismissal of the captain, who was out for 34 off 28 balls.
India then changed their approach in the middle overs, scoring 15 runs off the 16th over and another 20 in the next. The decision to bowl spin did not work out, and Van der Merwe couldn't stop the attack, so Bas de Leede had to return to the bowling lineup as India raced past 150 in 17 overs.
Shivam Dube led the way, blasting both spin and pace on his way to an explosive half-century off just 25 balls, featuring two fours and five sixes. Fourteen runs came from the final over, with Rinku Singh making his mark by hitting a six on his second ball. India finished with a commanding total of 193/6.
For the Netherlands, Logan van Beek (3-56) and Aryan Dutt (2-19) were the key bowlers.
Colin Ackermann and Bas de Leede were the main contributors for the Netherlands innings, adding 43 off 26 deliveries. Initially, they dismissed Pandya for 14 and then Abhishek Sharma for 10 runs – the only over he bowled. Continuing with momentum, both batters capitalized on Shivam Dube's first over for 12 runs after Ackermann was dropped by Washington Sundar.
Ackermann's (23 off 15) quick cameo ended after he got out at deep mid-wicket. Rinku Singh made a secure catch, dismissing Varun Chakravarthy's second wicket and ending the 43-run partnership. The Dutch soon faced more trouble as Chakravarthy took another wicket, removing Aryan Dutt for a duck. Suddenly, on a hat-trick, the spinner was on fire, leaving the Netherlands in a tough spot.
Dube then struck back after getting smoked for a maximum and a boundary with a prized wicket of de Leede (33). The Netherlands were in trouble with the required rate rising, and Bumrah, returning for his second spell, cleaned up the captain, Scott Edwards.
The Netherlands showed some fightback at the end with Zach Lion-Cachet (26 off 16) and Noah Croes (25 off 12*), but the run-rate proved too high as India maintained their winning run and extended it to 12 consecutive wins after defeating the visitors by 17 runs.
Varun Chakravarthy's 3-14 and Shivam Dube's all-round performance (66 & 2-35) were the key contributors in India's victory.
Brief scores:
India 193/6 in 20 overs (Shivam Dube 66, Suryakumar Yadav 34; Logan van Beek 3-56, Aryan Dutt 2-19) beat Netherlands 176/7 in 20 overs (Bas de Leede 33, Noah Croes 25; Varun Chakravarthy 3-14, Shivam Dube 2-25) by 17 runs
