Dube’s Career-Best 66 Powers India to 193/6 Against Netherlands

Ahmedabad, Feb 2026 : A blistering career-best knock from Shivam Dube, supported by a fluent innings from captain Suryakumar Yadav, helped India post a formidable total of 193/6 against the Netherlands in the 36th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.

Opting to bat first on a red-soil surface, India were jolted early as their top order struggled to find rhythm. In-form concerns deepened when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for his third consecutive duck of the tournament, continuing a disappointing run. Netherlands off-spinner Aryan Dutt made immediate impact with the new ball, striking twice inside the Power-play and applying pressure on the hosts.

Dutt accounted for both Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who scored 18 off 17 balls. Kishan looked assured during his stay and shared a steady 39-run partnership with Tilak Varma, but an unfortunate dismissal saw him bowled after a misjudgment. Dutt finished his opening spell with impressive figures, briefly tilting the contest in the Netherlands’ favour.

Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav then rebuilt the innings, combining caution with calculated aggression. Varma appeared in good touch, while Suryakumar survived a dropped chance by Michael Levitt off Logan van Beek. However, van Beek eventually had his say, dismissing Varma with a cleverly disguised slower delivery. Varma’s attempt to clear long-off ended safely in the hands of Roelof van der Merwe, who completed a full-stretch dive to claim the wicket.

With India hovering around the halfway mark, Suryakumar began to open up, playing his trademark ‘Supla’ shot off Bas de Leede to signal a shift in momentum. The real onslaught, however, began when Shivam Dube took centre stage. Facing Colin Ackermann in the 13th over, Dube unleashed his power, smashing two towering sixes and a boundary as 19 runs flowed from the over.

Just as India appeared set for a massive acceleration, the Netherlands struck a crucial blow by removing Suryakumar Yadav for 34 off 28 balls. The dismissal briefly stemmed the scoring rate and brought the contest back into balance, forcing India to reassess their approach.

What followed was a decisive shift in strategy. India went hard through the middle overs, targeting both spin and pace. Fifteen runs came from the 16th over, followed by another 20 in the 17th, as the Dutch bowlers struggled to contain the charge. Van der Merwe was unable to halt the momentum, prompting de Leede’s return to the attack, but by then India had surged past 150.

Dube was the driving force behind the late assault. He raced to his half-century in just 25 balls and continued to dominate, striking cleanly down the ground and over the leg side. His innings, featuring two fours and five sixes, ended at a career-best 66 off only 31 deliveries, surpassing his previous highest T20I scores against New Zealand and Afghanistan.

The finishing touches were applied by Rinku Singh, who announced himself with a six in the final over. Fourteen runs came off the last six balls, pushing India to an imposing 193/6 at the close of their innings.

For the Netherlands, Logan van Beek was the standout bowler with figures of 3-56, while Aryan Dutt impressed with 2-19. Despite moments of control, the visitors were ultimately undone by Dube’s power-hitting, leaving India in a strong position heading into the second half of the contest.

Brief Scores:
India 193/6 in 20 overs (Shivam Dube 66, Suryakumar Yadav 34; Logan van Beek 3-56, Aryan Dutt 2-19) vs Netherlands