Shivan Dube shined as India defeated the Netherlands in the final group match of the T20 World Cup and geared up for South Africa.
listen to this article3 minutes
information
Published February 18, 2026
India defeated the Netherlands by 17 runs in Ahmedabad and cleared Group A in the T20 World Cup with a clean sweep.
Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament, had already secured a spot in the Super Eights stage by winning each of their opening three matches, but Wednesday’s win confirmed their form against a Dutch team that almost shocked Pakistan in their opening match.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
India won the toss and finished with 193 wins and 6 losses, with Shivam Dube top-scoring with 66 for 31, including 19 in 16 overs.
“I try to go over the boundaries and it’s fun to hit sixes, but the bowling was good so I had to prepare,” Dube reflected.
“I know that all the bowlers don’t bowl me yorkers or length balls, they bowl slower, shorter balls, and I prepared for that (as well).
“The captains and coaches told me I had to keep my strike rate high, which wasn’t the case when I came in, but we got there.”
As Dube hinted, it wasn’t a very solid start as India opener Abhishek Sharma was sent off for a duck in his third consecutive game of the tournament.
Left-handed Abhishek, the world’s number one T20 international batsman in the ICC rankings, was sent off-spinner Aryan Dutt’s third ball into the stumps, leaving the home fans at the world’s biggest cricket stadium stunned.
Abhishek, 25, missed the second group stage match against Namibia due to a stomach infection and is yet to score in three games in this tournament.
Sharma’s opening partner Ishan Kishan also scored runs at a strike rate of 257 but had a relatively poor 18 runs, although Tilak Verma (31 runs from 27 matches) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (34 runs from 28 matches) added momentum to the innings with their cameo appearances.
Hardik Pandya also continued his good form with a late onslaught, hitting 30 for 21 as part of an innings-high 76 (5.5 overs) partnership with Dube.
Wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy led the bowling with 14 wins and 3 losses as Holland were dismissed with 176 wins and 7 losses. However, Dube was not left in the shadows of the field and picked up two wickets in this innings, with Holland’s top scorer Bas de Leede taking 33 wickets.
India’s next assignment will be the Super Eights opener against South Africa on Sunday at the same Ahmedabad venue.
