T20 World Cup: India v Netherlands

After the huge pressure that surrounded the game against Pakistan, India’s players can now retrain their focus on cricketing matters and tomorrow’s final group game at the T20 World Cup.

India take on the Netherlands looking to build on Sunday’s convincing 61-run victory over Pakistan. The on-off fixture dominated the first week of the tournament and having been able to take the field against their age-old rivals, India produced when it mattered most.

That win secured their place in the Super Eights before tomorrow’s game with the Dutch in Ahmedabad but that’s not to say everything is perfect for Team India.

Suryakumar Yadav’s side have won their three games in the competition but have not blown teams away in a manner many expected. They have batted first in every game but not made more than 209.

Abhishek Sharma, the number one T20 batter in the world, has yet to score a run in two innings and his form has caused consternation for fans in the cricket-mad country. 

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak is not concerned, however, and says the 25-year-old will come good when it counts.

“We don’t overanalyse unnecessarily. Sometimes, you only start making more assumptions than the opposition. He has his plans sorted,” he said.

With Sharma struggling, Ishan Kishan took centre stage against Pakistan with a brilliant 77 off 40 balls on a Colombo track that everyone else struggled on.

“He is not someone who cares too much about things, which the T20 game requires. He is very talented because he can play all around the ground, so he is very difficult to restrict if you don’t get him out,” Kotak said.

Facing India at the cavernous Narendra Modi Stadium is a daunting prospect but Netherlands captain Scott Edwards says his players will relish the opportunity.

He said: “It’s obviously a massive opportunity. I think it is the biggest stadium in the world. So, to be playing against India in India at the biggest stadium is something all the guys are really looking forward to. It’s a great opportunity to test yourselves against the best.”

Head coach Ryan Cook added: “Many players won’t get the chance to play in India, at a stadium like this, against the number one team in the world. We’ll embrace that.

“We feel the team is on the rise and we just want the guys to go out there and showcase their abilities. Whether it’s 100,000 people or a billion people watching, the guys have worked really hard to get to this point. To showcase a great game of cricket will be at the forefront of our minds.”

Team News for India v Netherlands

Sharma will keep his place with India’s only real selection dilemma whether to choose Arshdeep Singh or Kuldeep Yadav.

The Netherlands have to settle on a pace attack having mixed and matched so far. Two of Kyle Klein, Fred Klaassen and Paul van Meekeren will play.

Predicted teams for India v Netherlands

India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy

Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, Kyle Klein, Fred Klaassen