The defending champions, India, are set to face off against the Netherlands in their final Group A fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Worldbaazi Having already secured their spot in the Super Eight stage with a historic win over Pakistan, the "Men in Blue" will look to maintain their unbeaten streak, while the Dutch side aims for a giant-killing performance on the world’s biggest stage.

📅 Match Details: Date, Time, and Venue

  • Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

  • Time: 7:00 PM IST (Local Time)

  • Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India

  • Live Streaming: JioHotstar

  • Broadcast: Star Sports Network

⚔️ Head-to-Head Records (T20Is)

Historically, India and the Netherlands have rarely crossed paths in the shortest format of the game.

  • Matches Played: 1

  • India Won: 1

  • Netherlands Won: 0

  • Last Meeting: India defeated Netherlands by 56 runs during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Sydney. Suryakumar Yadav was the "Player of the Match" in that encounter for his blistering 51* off 25 balls.

🏏 Squads for T20 World Cup 2026

Team India Squad

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

Netherlands Squad

Scott Edwards (C/WK), Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen, Kyle Klein, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Max O'Dowd, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Saqib Zulfiqar.

🔮 Predicted Playing XI

India (Predicted)

Given that India has already qualified for the Super Eight, there might be a few rotations to manage the workload of senior bowlers.

  1. Abhishek Sharma

  2. Ishan Kishan (WK)

  3. Tilak Varma

  4. Suryakumar Yadav (C)

  5. Hardik Pandya

  6. Rinku Singh

  7. Axar Patel / Washington Sundar

  8. Varun Chakaravarthy

  9. Arshdeep Singh

  10. Mohammed Siraj

  11. Kuldeep Yadav (or Jasprit Bumrah if they opt for full strength)

Netherlands (Predicted)

The Dutch will likely stick to their core experienced players who have performed well in Associate cricket.

  1. Max O'Dowd

  2. Michael Levitt

  3. Vikramjit Singh

  4. Bas de Leede

  5. Scott Edwards (C/WK)

  6. Colin Ackermann

  7. Logan van Beek

  8. Roelof van der Merwe

  9. Timm van der Gugten

  10. Paul van Meekeren

  11. Aryan Dutt

🏟️ Pitch & Conditions: Ahmedabad

The Narendra Modi Stadium is known for its high-octane atmosphere and a surface that usually favors batters under lights. However, the large boundaries provide some relief to spinners. Since it is an evening game, the dew factor will play a significant role, making the toss crucial; the captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first.

💡 Key Players to Watch

  • Suryakumar Yadav (IND): The world’s top T20 batter has a great record against the Netherlands and is fresh off a match-winning 84 earlier in the tournament.

  • Bas de Leede (NED): A genuine all-rounder who can trouble the Indian top order with his pace and contribute vital runs in the middle order.

  • Varun Chakaravarthy (IND): India’s joint top-wicket taker in this edition so far, his "mystery" spin could be difficult for the Dutch batters to read.

🎯 Prediction

While the Netherlands are a disciplined side capable of causing upsets (as seen in their past wins over South Africa), India starts as overwhelming favorites. With the home crowd behind them and every player in top form, the Men in Blue are expected to finish the group stage with a perfect 4-0 record.