India vs Netherlands, 36th Match, Group A, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off today, February 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM local time (also 7:00 PM IST) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
This Group A clash sees India, already through to the Super 8s, aiming to cap their group stage unbeaten against a Netherlands side fighting to stay alive. The massive Narendra Modi Stadium, with its batting-friendly red soil pitch offering even bounce and early swing for pacers, has seen high scores in recent T20Is—teams batting first often set big totals. Weather looks perfect: clear skies, 23-29°C temperatures, 40-50% humidity, light 8-10 km/h winds, and zero rain chance—no dew issues either.
For India, it’s about building unstoppable momentum ahead of their Super 8 opener against South Africa on February 22. Suryakumar Yadav’s men have dominated, but fine-tuning batting depth matters on this quick Ahmedabad track. Netherlands need a miracle win to chase Super 8 dreams after mixed results—they stunned Pakistan but faltered elsewhere. A loss ends their campaign, making this a do-or-die for the Dutch under Scott Edwards.
India enters on fire, unbeaten in the tournament with clinical wins: a 209/9 to 116 romp over Namibia, 175/7 to 114 thrashing of Pakistan, plus victories over USA. Their batting firepower and bowling variety have clicked, though openers like Abhishek Sharma face scrutiny after recent ducks. Netherlands show grit but inconsistency— a seven-wicket chase over Namibia after losing to Pakistan, and earlier USA toss win but poor form guide (1 win in last 5 T20s). They’ve relied on openers and all-rounders but leak runs under pressure.
IND vs NED Match Details
- Match: India vs Netherlands, 36th Match
- Teams: IND vs NED
- Date: 18 Feb 2026
- Time: 6:30 PM 1:30 PM GMT / 7:00 PM LOCAL
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
T20 World 2026 Live Streaming Info
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7, 2026, and wraps up with the final on March 8, 2026. Hosted across India and Sri Lanka with 20 teams, it spans about a month—group stages from early February, Super 8s mid-month, semis late February/early March, and the final in Colombo or Mumbai.
- In India, tune into Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2) or stream on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
- Pakistan viewers can watch on PTV Sports, A Sports, or Ten Sports, with streaming available on Tapmad and Tamasha.
- For Sri Lanka, options include SLRC, Channel Eye, and Siyatha TV on TV, plus Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube and Dialog ViU online.
- UK fans have Sky Sports Cricket, TNT Sports 1, and talkSPORT on television, alongside Sky Go, Discovery+, and NOW TV for streaming.
- In South Africa, SuperSport covers it on TV and via their app.
- Australia might check Fox Sports for TV and Kayo Sports for live streams.
- USA and Canada: Willow TV on TV, Sling TV or Willow HD app for streaming.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ on TV and Sky Go app.
- Bangladesh: Gazi TV (GTV) and Rabith BD app.
- Afghanistan: RTA Sport and Ariana TV.
Rest of the world: ICC.tv for free streaming where no local rights holder exists. Subscriptions often apply, and VPNs can assist with geo-blocks where permitted.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
Catch every boundary without paying via these official free options, perfect for fans in Pakistan and beyond.
Pakistan: PTV Sports broadcasts all matches live for free on TV via terrestrial, cable, and satellite—no subscription needed.
Live Streaming Info:
The 36th T20 World Cup match will be live on Willow Cricket.
Live Score Info:
Head-to-Head
India owns the limited T20I record against Netherlands: 1 match played, India 1 win, Netherlands 0, no results or ties. That lone clash? October 27, 2022, T20 World Cup in Sydney—India’s 179/2 (Suryakumar Yadav 51* off 25) crushed Netherlands’ 123/9 by 56 runs. Last five meetings don’t exist beyond that single encounter, but India never faced them before 2022 in T20Is.
India Analysis
Strengths: Explosive top order, all-round depth (Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel), lethal pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Weaknesses: Occasional top-order wobbles, spin reliance on turning pitches—but Ahmedabad suits seam. Key players: Suryakumar Yadav (captain, consistent anchor), Ishan Kishan (aggressive opener with 61 off 24 vs Namibia, 77 vs Pakistan), Varun Chakaravarthy (3/7 bursts). Recent form: 3 straight group wins, 14-match T20I streak overall.
Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Netherlands Analysis
Strengths: Solid openers (Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt), all-rounders like Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek for balance, experience from 2022 upset over England. Weaknesses: Fragile middle order, bowling leaks on big grounds, inconsistent finishes. Key players: Scott Edwards (captain/wk, steady), Bas de Leede (pace all-round threat), Aryan Dutt (spin variety). Recent form: 1 win (vs Namibia), losses including to Pakistan; just 1 in last 5 T20s.
Probable XI: 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, Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren.
Key Talking Points
India’s pace trio (Bumrah, Arshdeep, Siraj potential) could exploit early swing before batsmen dominate. Netherlands’ 2022 heroics linger—can they repeat? Abhishek Sharma’s form (two ducks lately) vs Dutch new-ball attack is huge. Pitch favors chases minimally, so toss winner might bat first. All-rounders decide: Pandya vs van Beek.
India’s superior squad, form, and home advantage make them heavy favorites to win by 40+ runs or 7 wickets, extending their streak on this batting paradise. Netherlands might compete early but lack firepower for the chase. Expect 180+ total, India cruising in 18 overs.