T20 World Cup 2026: India has already locked in a spot in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, and honestly, their performance has been topsy-turvy at the moment. Now, with their last league match coming up against the Netherlands on February 18, they’ve got a chance to try something different. The game doesn’t really matter for India’s standings, so it makes sense to give some of the regular players a break and let others step in.
Match Details
India vs Netherlands
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
On Wednesday, India is going to rest a couple of their big names before heading into the Super 8’s. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are expected to sit this one out. Pandya’s already played three matches, so he’s due for some rest. If Bumrah takes a break, Mohammed Siraj will probably get another shot in the playing eleven.
The match will be at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which favours the batsmen. Siraj and the rest of the bowlers will really have to prove themselves. We might see Shivam Dubey get a turn with the ball, and Arshdeep Singh should also feature in this match.
India hasn’t really faced any of the heavyweight teams in the league yet, but now they’re in Group A in the Super 8, along with West Indies, South Africa, and either Australia or Zimbabwe. Things are about to get a lot tougher, so India needs to be ready.
On the batting perspective, Ishan Kishan’s been in good touch, but Abhishek Sharma still hasn’t scored a single run in the tournament. He’s just come back from illness, and it’s pretty important for him and the team that he finds his form before the Super 8s. All eyes will be on him in the match against the Netherlands. Also, expect some changes in the bowling lineup. There’s a good chance Shivam Dubey bowls his full quota of four overs. So, this match doubles as a bit of an experiment for him too.
India’s probable playing XI against Netherlands:
Ishan Kishan (wicket keeper), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Shivam Dubey, Washington Sundar, Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
