Dube heroics help India get full points vs spirited Netherlands in T20IWC

 

What was billed as a mere formality turned into a fiercely competitive contest as the Netherlands pushed India all the way in their final group-stage clash of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The so-called underdogs refused to roll over, ensuring that Suryakumar Yadav’s men had to work hard for their victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Although the Super Eight line-up had already been confirmed before Wednesday evening’s encounter, the Dutch were determined to bow out on a high. India, meanwhile, were keen to maintain their unbeaten streak — a tag that still proudly accompanies the Men in Blue, who have not lost a single match in the 2024 tournament. Their dominant march through the group stage continues, but this was far from a stroll.

Winning the toss, skipper Suryakumar Yadav opted to bat first. However, India’s start was far from ideal. Abhishek Sharma’s lean patch persisted as he fell for a duck, while Ishan Kishan, explosive in the first three games, also failed to make an impact. Both openers were dismissed by Netherlands’ Indian-origin pacer Aryan Dutt, putting India on the back foot early.

The middle order, including Tilak Varma and Suryakumar, could not fully seize control either. By the 14th over, India were wobbling at 110 for four, under mounting pressure. It was Shivam Dube who transformed the innings with a breathtaking counterattack. His blistering 66 off just 31 balls injected momentum into the innings and revived India’s batting charge. Hardik Pandya chipped in with a useful 30, but India fell just short of breaching the 200-run mark against a disciplined Dutch attack, finishing with a competitive 193.

Chasing 194 for victory, the Netherlands began cautiously through Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd, adopting a measured approach. However, the Dutch lacked a batter capable of anchoring the innings deep into the chase. The turning point came through Varun Chakaravarthy’s mesmerising spell of spin. The mystery spinner claimed three wickets for just 14 runs in three overs, effectively derailing the Dutch pursuit. DeLeede (33) was the Dutch top scorer & many others chipped in with 20s 

Washington Sundar had an off day, and even Abhishek Sharma’s part-time spin failed to make an impression. India’s fielding too left room for improvement. Yet the Netherlands displayed admirable resilience, batting through to the final over and dramatically reducing the margin of defeat.

Ultimately, the Dutch went down fighting by just 17 runs — a significantly narrower margin than India’s win over Pakistan earlier in the tournament. While their World Cup campaign came to an end, Scott Edwards and his men earned respect with a courageous and competitive performance against the defending champions.

India move into the Super Eight unbeaten and confident, but this hard-fought contest served as a timely reminder that no opponent can be taken lightly on cricket’s biggest stage.