On February 18, 2026, the world’s largest cricket stadium opens its gates for a Group A fixture that feels like a celebration more than a contest. Fans will fill the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, and almost every single one of them will be cheering for India.
Suryakumar Yadav’s men arrive as heavy favorites against a Netherlands side that quietly punches above its weight. India will look to dominate from ball one. The Netherlands will look to surprise. One thing is certain: this ground will be electric from the first delivery to the last.
IND vs NED T20 World Cup Match Details
Ahmedabad hosts this Group A evening fixture as India look to continue their winning run, and the Netherlands aim to make their mark at the biggest stage in T20 cricket.
The Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket ground in the world, holding an incredible 132,000 fans.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match Number | 36th Match, Group A |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
| Time (Local) | 7:00 PM |
| Time (GMT) | 1:30 PM |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India |
It has two ends, the Adani Pavilion End and the GMDC End, and is home to both Gujarat and the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. An India match here always creates a jaw-dropping atmosphere unlike anything else in the sport.
Weather Report
Ahmedabad in February offers pleasant evening conditions, which should allow a full and uninterrupted match for both teams and the massive crowd.
| Parameter | Forecast Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 22-27°C (Warm and comfortable) |
| Humidity | 35-50% |
| Rain Chance | 5% (Mostly clear skies) |
| Wind Speed | 8-14 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Mostly clear |
Evening conditions in Ahmedabad during February are among the most pleasant in Indian cricket. Low humidity means the ball travels well, and fielders can operate at full intensity. With just a 5% rain chance, fans can expect a complete 40-over game with no weather interruptions.
Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium surface is known as a batting paradise, and India’s powerful lineup will be licking its lips at the conditions on offer tonight.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Nature | Flat and true with an even bounce throughout. The surface is made for big scores and stroke play. |
| Batting Assistance | The ball comes onto the bat very nicely. Batters can play all their shots with full confidence right from the start. |
| Bowling Assistance | Pace bowlers may get some movement with the new ball early on. Spinners need to use variations as the pitch offers very little turn. |
| Boundary Size | Square boundaries are around 68-72 meters. Straight boundaries extend to approximately 80-85 meters. |
| Ideal First Innings Score | Teams batting first target 185-200 on this ground. Totals above 190 are very hard to chase. |
| Toss Impact | Dew in the evening makes bowling second difficult. Teams winning the toss often prefer to bowl first to chase with a wet outfield. |
The Ahmedabad pitch is a batter’s dream, and India have the firepower to post a total that could be out of reach for any team in this tournament.
The Netherlands will need their bowlers to be at their very best to restrict India to a chaseable score.
IND vs NED Squads
Both teams have named their full 15-player squads for this World Cup campaign, and the difference in depth and experience between the two sides is clear.
India Squad
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar
Netherlands Squad
Scott Edwards (c & wk), Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen, Kyle Klein, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Max O’Dowd, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren
India carries an incredibly balanced squad with world-class players in every slot from top to bottom. The Netherlands is a well-organized unit led by Scott Edwards, and they will rely on their experienced European circuit players to hold their own against one of the strongest T20 teams in the world.
Key Players to Watch
Several players from both sides have the ability to take this game away from the opposition with just one brilliant performance.
Key Batters
| Player | Team | T20I Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suryakumar Yadav | India | 3,158 runs in 107 matches at an average of 37.59, SR 164.30 | Captain and the best T20 batter in the world right now. Can score runs at any pace on any surface |
| Abhishek Sharma | India | 1,297 runs in 40 matches at an average of 35.05, SR 193.29 | An explosive opening batter who can destroy any bowling attack inside the powerplay |
| Hardik Pandya | India | 2,128 runs in 132 matches at an average of 28.00, SR 144.95 | An attacking middle-order allrounder who can accelerate the run rate at any point |
| Max O’Dowd | Netherlands | 2,334 runs in 90 matches at an average of 29.17, SR 121.94 | The Netherlands’ most experienced top-order batter, who gives them a solid platform at the start |
| Bas de Leede | Netherlands | 848 runs in 48 matches at an average of 27.35, SR 105.60 | Hard-hitting batting allrounder who contributes with both bat and ball in every game |
Key Bowlers
| Player | Team | T20I | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | India | 110 wickets in 89 matches at an economy rate of 6.53 | The best death bowler in the world. Difficult to score off and almost impossible to read |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | 121 wickets in 78 matches at an economy rate of 8.51 | Left-arm swing bowler who is deadly with the new ball and in the death overs |
| Varun Chakravarthy | India | 65 wickets in 39 matches at an economy rate of 7.03 | A mystery spinner who is very difficult to pick and can take wickets in the middle overs |
| Paul van Meekeren | Netherlands | 86 wickets in 78 matches at an economy rate of 7.06 | The Netherlands’ most experienced pace bowler, who can surprise top-order batters with raw pace |
| Roelof van der Merwe | Netherlands | 75 wickets in 70 matches at an economy rate of 6.59 | Left-arm spinning allrounder who gives the Netherlands control in the middle overs |
These players will shape how the match unfolds at the Narendra Modi Stadium. India’s bowling attack is one of the finest in world cricket right now, and the Netherlands will need a miracle performance to score enough runs to make India sweat.
Head-to-Head Record
India and the Netherlands have met only once in T20I cricket, and India prevailed in that encounter without much trouble.
| Match Format | Total Matches Played | India Won | Netherlands Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
India holds a perfect 1-0 record over the Netherlands in T20I cricket. They have won the only meeting between the two sides so far, and the head-to-head record tells the full story of the gap between these teams at the international level.
The Netherlands has shown they can compete against stronger nations on good days, but India at the Narendra Modi Stadium will be a very different challenge.
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Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
Fans around the world can watch this blockbuster Group A fixture live through their local television and digital streaming platforms.
| Region/Country | Television | Digital/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | JioHotstar |
| Pakistan | PTV, Myco | Tamasha, ARY Zapp, Tapmad |
| Sri Lanka | Dialog TV, TV Supreme (free-to-air) | ThePapare.com, Dialog Play app |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event | NOW |
| Australia | — | Prime Video |
| Netherlands | — | NOS |
| UAE & MENA | CricLife Max (via StarzPlay) | StarzPlay |
| United States | Willow TV | Willow DTC, CricBuzz DTC, Willow YouTube |
Indian fans can watch on Star Sports Network with full multi-language coverage and stream live on JioHotstar with special features including 360-degree view and multi-cam. Netherlands supporters can follow the action live on NOS.
UK fans can access full coverage on Sky Sports Cricket and NOW. Australian viewers can stream on Prime Video.
