T20 World Cup: India edge Netherlands, Pakistan and South Africa cruise

India delivered another thrilling performance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 , edging past the Netherlands by 17 runs in a high‑intensity Group A encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, Pakistan sealed the final Super Eight spot with a dominant win over Namibia, and South Africa continued their unbeaten run with a comprehensive victory over the United Arab Emirates today.

After India set a challenging total of 193 runs , powered by a fiery 66‑run knock from Shivam Dube and useful contributions from Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya , the Dutch side fought hard in their chase. India’s bowlers held firm to restrict the Netherlands to 176 for 7 , giving the hosts a crucial win in the group stage.

Although India emerged victorious, there were talking points. Young opener Abhishek Sharma suffered his third consecutive duck , raising concerns about his form at a decisive stage of the tournament. A spectacular moment in the field came from the experienced Roelof van der Merwe of the Netherlands , who produced a stunning airborne catch to dismiss Tilak Varma, a reminder that individual brilliance can shine even in defeat.

In earlier action, Pakistan booked their place in the Super Eight round with a commanding 102‑run win over Namibia in Colombo. Century‑maker Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with an unbeaten hundred, while spinner Usman Tariq tore through the Namibian batting lineup , finishing with excellent figures to secure qualification.

Elsewhere, South Africa defeated the United Arab Emirates by six wickets , completing their group phase campaign unbeaten and showing the depth and balance that could make them serious contenders.

Looking ahead, today’s matches will feature West Indies taking on Italy, Sri Lanka facing Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan playing Canada, completing the group stage fixtures and setting the stage for the Super Eight battles.

With the group stage now complete, teams begin to prepare for the next phase where stakes and intensity will rise. India’s gritty performance today ensures they carry valuable momentum into the next round, though batting consistency will be key as they chase World Cup glory.