Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed another chapter in India-Netherlands T20 rivalry as Shivam Dube unleashed hell with 66 runs from 31 balls—6 sixes and 4 fours—in the 36th T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier. This propelled India to 193/6 and crowned Dube the fourth Indian with a fifty against Netherlands, following in the footsteps of cricket royalty.
India’s chase of momentum began disastrously: Abhishek Sharma out for 0 on ball three. Ishan Kishan (18) and Tilak Varma (31) responded with 39 off 23, Suryakumar Yadav (34) added 30 with Tilak and 41 with Dube. At 110/4, Dube and Hardik Pandya’s 76 off 35 turned crisis into command, their strokes echoing through the stands.
Bowling honors for Netherlands went to Logan van Beek (3/56), Aryan Dutt (2 wickets), and Kyle Klein (1). Historically, Virat Kohli’s 62* (44 balls), Rohit Sharma’s 53 (39), and Suryakumar Yadav’s 51* (25) all came in that iconic 2022 Sydney thriller on October 27. No Namibian has breached 50 against India, underscoring selective dominance.
Dube’s innings wasn’t just numbers; it was a statement of intent, reviving India’s innings and boosting morale. In the broader T20 landscape, such performances against minnows often signal form for bigger battles. As Team India navigates qualifiers, Dube’s middle-order mastery positions them strongly, promising more fireworks ahead.