India were pushed harder than expected, but when the moment demanded composure and courage, Shivam Dube delivered both in style. His breathtaking 66 off 31 balls turned a sluggish innings into a commanding total and helped India seal a 17-run win over Netherlands, marking their fourth consecutive victory in the T20 World Cup.
For much of the evening, the Netherlands bowlers controlled the contest. They relied on clever variations — slower balls, cutters, and knuckle deliveries — and stuck to disciplined lines. India’s explosive top order struggled to break free. Aryan Dutt set the tone early, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in the PowerPlay while conceding very little. India looked unsettled and short of answers.
Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav attempted to steady the innings, but the middle overs became a grind. Boundaries dried up and pressure mounted. A sharp catch in the deep ended Tilak’s resistance at 31 off 27 balls. Even Suryakumar, known for his innovation, found it difficult to pierce the field consistently.
At one stage, India seemed headed for a below-par score.
Dube began cautiously, managing only six runs off his first 11 deliveries. Then, almost suddenly, he shifted gears. He identified the shorter square boundaries and capitalized on predictable pace changes. In one over, he launched two towering sixes and a boundary, instantly changing the tempo of the innings.
From there, the transformation was dramatic. Dube raced to a half-century in just 25 balls. Full tosses were dispatched into the stands, length balls cleared mid-wicket, and anything in his arc disappeared beyond the rope. His clean striking injected belief back into the Indian camp.
Hardik Pandya struggled with timing but chipped in with a valuable 30 off 21 balls, including three sixes. Together, they ensured India added 75 runs in the final five overs, pushing the total to 193/6 — a score that had looked unlikely halfway through the innings. Dube eventually fell for 66 off 31 balls, but his job was complete.
Netherlands began their chase cautiously. Max O’Dowd negotiated the new ball but fell to a sharp delivery from Varun CV. Hardik Pandya removed Michael Levitt, keeping India ahead. Colin Ackermann briefly reignited hopes with aggressive strokes, yet Varun struck twice in quick succession to break the backbone of the chase.
Bas de Leede played a spirited knock of 33 off 23 balls, while Noah Croes and Zach Lion-Cachet attacked bravely in the final overs. They collected useful runs against Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik, narrowing the margin and forcing India to stay alert until the last over.
Despite the late surge, Netherlands finished at 176/7. India held their nerve to win by 17 runs.
The turning point of the match came between overs 13 and 17, when Dube dismantled the disciplined Netherlands attack. His controlled aggression lifted India from a potentially modest total to a match-winning one. Without that burst, the result could have been very different.
With four wins in a row, India’s campaign continues to gather momentum. More importantly, this victory highlighted depth and resilience. When the top order faltered, the middle order responded. When the bowlers were challenged late, they closed out the game calmly.
On a night when an upset seemed possible, Shivam Dube ensured India stayed firmly on course.