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The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is buzzing as India prepares for its final group-stage encounter of the T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands. Having already secured their spot in the Super 8s following a high-voltage 61-run victory over Pakistan in Colombo, the Men in Blue have arrived in Gujarat looking to maintain their unbeaten streak. With the red-soil pitch expected to offer plenty of pace and bounce, captain Suryakumar Yadav has opted for a ‘tactical refresh’ to ensure his core unit remains sharp for the business end of the tournament.
T20 World Cup 2026: Reason why Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are not playing today’s IND vs NED game
India have made two significant changes to their playing XI for today’s clash, with both Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav missing out. Captain Suryakumar confirmed at the toss that vice-captain Axar is being rested as a precautionary measure to manage his workload after a grueling start to the tournament. In a similar vein, premier wrist-spinner Kuldeep has been given a break following his high-intensity spell against Pakistan, where he played a pivotal role in dismantling their middle order.
Addressing the changes, Suryakumar stated, “We have two changes, Arshdeep comes in for Kuldeep, Axar is resting and Washington comes in. It’s about keeping everyone fresh and ready for the Super 8s.” The inclusion of Washington Sundar and the return of Arshdeep Singh suggests India wants to test their powerplay bowling depth on an Ahmedabad surface that traditionally favors the seamers under lights.
T20 World Cup 2026: India and Netherlands’ contrasting journeys
The journey through Group A has been a dominant one for India, who currently sit comfortably at the top of the table with three wins from three games. Their campaign has been defined by clinical execution, from the opening-day win against the USA to the tactical masterclass that saw them outclass Pakistan on February 15.
The ‘Ishan-Abhishek’ opening combo and the leadership of Suryakumar have turned the Indian side into a formidable juggernaut. On the other hand, the Netherlands find themselves in a desperate fight for survival. After a heartbreaking narrow loss to Pakistan and a heavy defeat against the USA, the Dutch must pull off a historic upset today to keep their mathematical hopes of qualification alive.
With the Super 8s set to begin on February 22 at this very venue, today’s game is less about the points for India and more about fine-tuning their strategy. For the Netherlands, however, it is a final stand in a tournament where they have often been competitive but lacked the finishing touch. The road ahead for India looks clear as they prepare to face South Africa in their first Super 8 match, while the Netherlands face an uphill battle against an Indian bowling unit that seems to have a replacement for every situation.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
