T20 World Cup 2026: India vs Netherlands, Match 36 – Full highlights, top moments & winner details

India won their final group game against the Netherlands by 17 runs and will be heading into the Super 8s oozing with confidence. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 18, the fans witnessed an intriguing contest as the Netherlands put up a solid fight.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India lost Abhishek Sharma in the first over once again. The southpaw registered his third consecutive duck in the tournament. Ishan Kishan went after the bowlers, while Tilak Varma went about business with a sedate approach.

In the fifth over, Kishan was dismissed for a 7-ball 18. Tilak's scratchy innings yielded 31 runs off 27 balls as he got out in the ninth over. Suryakumar Yadav got himself set at the crease but couldn't convert his start into a substantial score.

Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya had a wonderful 76-run partnership off 35 balls to help India finish on 193/6 in their 20 overs. Dube smashed a belligerent half-century, while Hardik made 30 off 21 balls.

In reply, the Netherlands tried to keep wickets in hand inside the powerplay. Max O'Dowd and Michael Levitt added 35 runs before the former was dismissed in the last over of the powerplay. Levitt also departed soon after but Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann gave the Netherlands hopes of a famous win.

They forged a 49-run stand off 26 balls but the partnership was broken by the talismanic Varun Chakaravarthy. The mystery spinner struck once again off the very next ball as the Dutch side went from 94/2 to 94/4. In the following over, Bas de Leede was dismissed.

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards also departed in the 16th over and it was time for a special partnership from Zach Lion-Cachet and Noah Croes. They needed 28 runs in the last over but Shivam Dube conceded only 10.

Top batting performance: Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube performed brilliantly with the bat and registered his highest international score of 66. The left-handed batter faced just 31 balls, belting four fours and six sixes. His swashbuckling innings helped India amass 119 runs in the last 10 overs.

Top bowling performance: Varun Chakaravarthy

Varun Chakaravarthy picked up the wickets of Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, and Aryan Dutt and gave away just 14 runs in his three overs. The mystery spinner was too hot to handle for the Netherlands batters who looked at sixes and sevens while facing him.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Shivam Dube's 66 is his highest score in T20I cricket, bettering the 65 he smashed against New Zealand.
• Abhishek Sharma has five ducks in 2026. One more and he will equal Saim Ayub for the most ducks in a calendar year in T20Is.

Who was the Player of match?

Shivam Dube fittingly won the Player of the Match award on Wednesday. Not only did he pulverise the Dutch bowling but picked up two wickets with the ball as well. The Mumbai all-rounder accounted for the wickets of Bas de Leede and Zach Lion-Cachet, finishing with figures of 2/35 in three overs.

When is the next match?

India's next match is against South Africa in the Super 8s. The two finalists from the last edition of the T20 World Cup will meet at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, February 22. Meanwhile, the Netherlands will be heading home as they have failed to progress beyond the group stage.