Dube's Explosive Death-Overs Batting Powers India to Fourth Consecutive T20 World Cup Win

In a thrilling T20 World Cup Super 8 encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India secured their fourth consecutive victory by defeating Netherlands by 17 runs, largely thanks to Shivam Dube's explosive 66 off 30 balls in the death overs.

For much of the evening on Wednesday, Netherlands dared to dream of pulling off the biggest upset of the tournament. Their bowlers employed clever variations—slower balls, cutters, and knuckle balls—to restrict India's explosive batting lineup, leaving the hosts struggling at 118/5 after 15 overs.

India's top order faced a tough challenge from the outset. Abhishek Sharma fell for a third successive duck, bowled by off-spinner Aryan Dutt, who delivered three exceptional PowerPlay overs conceding just 17 runs. Ishan Kishan was next, suffering misfortune in another dismissal by Dutt. Netherlands' medium-pacers then frustrated Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav with disciplined lengths and slower deliveries pitched outside off-stump.

A stunning catch by Roelof van der Merwe ended the Tilak-Suryakumar partnership, with Tilak departing for 31 off 27 balls. Suryakumar, seeking to turn the game like he did against the USA, broke a 19-ball boundary drought with a six over fine leg in the 12th over. Shivam Dube joined him and immediately made his mark against Colin Ackermann in the 13th over, smashing two sixes and a four despite a scratchy start.

Kyle Klein struck back, dismissing Suryakumar for 34 off 28 balls. Hardik Pandya followed but struggled with timing, though he later connected for three sixes in his 30 off 21. Dube, however, was in a league of his own, accelerating from 6 off 11 to a 25-ball fifty. Netherlands' bowlers erred with full tosses and hittable deliveries, which Dube dispatched over mid-wicket and long-on.

He targeted Logan van Beek in a 20-run 17th over, hit Klein for a four in the 18th, and added another six off van Beek before perishing for 66 off 31 in the final over, caught at fine leg. India posted 193/6, adding 75 runs in the last five overs, exploiting the skewed square boundaries (60m and 68m).

In the chase, Netherlands opener Max O'Dowd survived Jasprit Bumrah in the PowerPlay but fell to Varun CV in the sixth over. Hardik Pandya removed Michael Levitt, while Colin Ackermann's two sixes provided brief hope before Varun CV dismantled the middle order with 3-14, dismissing Ackermann and Aryan Dutt in successive balls.

Dube claimed Bas de Leede (33 off 23), and Bumrah got captain Scott Edwards at the start of the death overs. Late resistance from Noah Croes (25*) and Zach Lion-Cachet (26) narrowed the gap, but Dube's final over breakthrough sealed the win. Netherlands finished at 176/7.

"Dube's death-overs batting fuels India's fourth win on the bounce," highlighting his role as the chief catalyst. Brief scores: India 193/6 in 20 overs (Shivam Dube 66; Aryan Dutt 2-19) beat Netherlands 176/7 in 20 overs (Zach Lion-Cachet 26, Noah Croes 25*; Varun CV 3-14) by 17 runs.