India maintained their perfect record at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, defeating the Netherlands by 17 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18. The result confirmed India's flawless group stage run, with the hosts winning all four of their matches to top Group A with maximum points and a net run rate of +3.050.

Asked to bat first, India posted an imposing 193 for 6 in their 20 overs, powered by a breathtaking knock from Shivam Dube. The left-hander smashed 66 off just 31 deliveries, striking with a mix of brute force and clean timing that left the Dutch bowlers searching for answers. Suryakumar Yadav contributed a composed 34 off 28 balls at the top of the order, while Tilak Varma chipped in with 31 off 27 to keep the scoreboard ticking in the middle overs. Hardik Pandya provided the late fireworks with a quickfire 30 off 21, ensuring India finished with a total well beyond par.

The only blemish on India's batting card was Abhishek Sharma, who was dismissed for a duck for the third consecutive time in the tournament, a worrying trend for the opener heading into the knockout rounds. Netherlands' Logan van Beek was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 56, while the economical Aryan Dutt claimed two wickets to give the Dutch something to cheer about.

In reply, the Netherlands showed plenty of fight but ultimately fell short at 176 for 7. Bas de Leede top-scored with 33, and Colin Ackermann added 23 as the Dutch tried to keep pace with the required rate. However, India's bowling attack, led by Dube's handy two wickets, kept taking wickets at crucial intervals, never allowing the Netherlands to build sustained momentum. Dube's all-round performance of 66 runs and two wickets rightly earned him the Player of the Match award.

While the match was a dead rubber with both teams' fates already sealed, it served as a valuable confidence booster for India as they prepare for the Super Eight stage. The tournament, co-hosted across India and Sri Lanka, has already delivered its share of drama during the group phase.

The eight teams advancing to the Super Eights have now been confirmed. India and Pakistan both qualified from Group A, with Pakistan securing the last available spot after beating Namibia. Group B produced the tournament's biggest shock, with Zimbabwe qualifying for the Super Eights for the first time in their history after Sri Lanka dominated the group with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Australia, which ended the Australians' tournament in the group stage.

The West Indies and England advanced from Group C, with the Caribbean side winning all three of their matches in style. South Africa and New Zealand emerged from Group D, both finishing on six points.

As the group stage wraps up on February 19 with three final matches, including West Indies versus Italy at Eden Gardens, Sri Lanka versus Zimbabwe in Colombo, and Afghanistan versus Canada in Chennai, all eyes now turn to the Super Eights. India will fancy their chances of continuing their dominant run, but with heavyweights like South Africa, West Indies, and a dangerous Pakistan side all through, the knockout rounds promise to deliver high drama in the weeks ahead.