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Sunday at T20 World Cup: It’s India vs Pakistan, and a debut for Netherlands – Full Preview

Nikhil Joshi · · 3 min read

Following an exhilarating opening day and Saturday’s triple-header, the T20 World Cup continues its momentum with a compelling double-header on Sunday. Cricket fans are bracing for a day packed with significant encounters, highlighted by a historic debut and one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries. The anticipation is palpable as teams vie for early dominance in their respective groups.

Who’s Taking the Field?

The day’s proceedings commence with T20 World Cup debutants Netherlands taking on Bangladesh. This opening fixture, scheduled for 9:30 AM GMT in Birmingham, marks a significant milestone for the Dutch side as they enter the global stage. Bangladesh, participating in their seventh consecutive T20 World Cup, will be looking to improve upon their 2024 performance where they secured only one win from four matches. Recent encounters between these two teams in a tri-series in Scotland saw the Netherlands triumph by eight runs, only for Bangladesh to exact revenge with a 13-run victory. Historically, Bangladesh holds a 4-1 advantage in their overall head-to-head T20I record.

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Later in the day, from 1:30 PM GMT, Birmingham will host one of the most eagerly awaited contests in international cricket: India versus Pakistan. This clash transcends cricket, drawing immense global attention. While the rivalry is intense, India has historically dominated, leading the head-to-head 6-2 in T20 World Cups and an overwhelming 13-3 in T20Is overall. Both teams face immense pressure to secure a strong start in what has been widely labelled the ‘group of death’, where every victory will be critical for progression.

Team News and Probable Line-ups

Netherlands

The debutants are expected to field a strong side for their inaugural T20 World Cup match. Their probable XI reflects a blend of experience and emerging talent, eager to make a statement on the biggest stage.

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  • Heather Siegers
  • Phebe Molkenboer
  • Babette de Leede (capt & wk)
  • Sterre Kalis
  • Robine Rijke
  • Frederique Overdijk/Iris Zwilling
  • Sanya Khurana
  • Hannah Landheer
  • Myrthe van den Raad/Caroline de Lange
  • Silver Siegers
  • Isabel van den Woning

Bangladesh

Bangladesh will rely on their established core players as they aim for a crucial victory against the tournament newcomers. Their batting and bowling combinations will be key to their success.

  • Dilara Akter
  • Juairiya Ferdous
  • Sobhana Mostary
  • Nigar Sultana (capt & wk)
  • Shorna Akter
  • Sharmin Akhter
  • Ritu Moni
  • Rabeya Khan
  • Marufa Akter
  • Fariha Trisna
  • Sanjida Akter Meghla

India

India’s team selection will involve critical decisions, particularly concerning their wicket-keeper batter and pace attack. The management will need to choose between Yastika Bhatia and Bharti Fulmali for the batting lineup, and select two pace bowlers from a pool including Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, and recent debutant Nandani Sharma.

  • Smriti Mandhana
  • Shafali Verma
  • Yastika Bhatia
  • Jemimah Rodrigues
  • Harmanpreet Kaur
  • Richa Ghosh (wk)
  • Deepti Sharma
  • Arundhati Reddy/Renuka Singh
  • Kranti Gaud
  • Shree Charani
  • Nandani Sharma

Pakistan

A key concern for Pakistan is the fitness of their captain, Fatima Sana, who sustained a knee injury during net practice on Saturday. She expressed optimism about her availability, stating she would

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