ind vs ned: Scott Edwards Eyes 'Massive Opportunity' as Netherlands Gear Up in Ahmedabad
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards framed his side’s meeting with India on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (ET) as more than a Group stage fixture — it is a chance to test his players on the biggest stage and to stimulate interest in cricket back home. The Dutch arrive in Ahmedabad with mixed form but clear intent: to exit with pride and potential momentum for the future.
Big stage, bigger ambitions
Edwards emphasised the scale of the occasion as his team prepared to face the defending champions in what he described as the world’s biggest stadium. “It is obviously a massive opportunity. I think it is the biggest stadium in the world. So, to be playing against India in India at the biggest stadium is something all the guys are really looking forward to, ” he said, underlining how rare such encounters are for an associate nation.
The skipper made clear that the Dutch view was not only to compete on the scoreboard but to leverage the spotlight. “It is a great opportunity to test yourselves against the best. I think cricket is growing in the Netherlands. Obviously, soccer is the main sport and we probably will never get to that level, but for us it is just promoting the game and hopefully our performances can help grow that game in the Netherlands, ” Edwards added, linking on-field ambition with broader development goals.
Past highlights and present challenges
Netherlands’ limited-overs tournament history has featured memorable shocks — most famously the 2009 T20 win over England — and consistent presence since 2014. Their best finish in recent T20 World Cups came in 2022, when they placed eighth. Those moments have demonstrated that the side can punch above its weight, but Edwards pointed to structural barriers that keep progress uneven.
“I think we have played a lot of good cricket through World Cups. I think to get to the next level, a lot of it comes down to more opportunities against Test playing nations, ” he said, stressing that exposure to top-tier opposition is crucial. He also acknowledged constraints that many associate squads face, noting restrictions around funding and fewer fixtures as factors outside the team’s direct control.
Despite those obstacles, Edwards insisted the team’s remit is simple: perform well when opportunities arise on the global stage and use those moments to create further chances for Dutch players and the sport’s domestic growth.
Group form and what’s at stake
Heading into the India fixture, Netherlands sit second in their group after securing a win over Namibia but suffering defeats to Pakistan and the United States. The loss to the USA was especially chastening — a chase that ended with the Dutch bundled out for 103 while chasing 197 — and Edwards admitted the side did not play its best cricket in Chennai.
That defeat all but ended hopes of advancing, but a strong performance against India could still reshape perceptions. A win would have put the Dutch into serious contention for a late tournament surge in previous campaigns; this time, while progression may already be unlikely, the match represents a platform to showcase resilience and talent against elite opposition.
Edwards also reminded that the Netherlands’ history in T20 World Cups includes narrow misses and tight contests, citing close games with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in past editions. Those encounters, he suggested, reflect a competitive mindset that can yield results when the team’s preparation and execution align.
As the players prepared to take the field in Ahmedabad, the message from the Netherlands camp was pragmatic yet ambitious: use the spotlight to challenge a champion, build experience for the squad, and, perhaps most importantly, inspire a new generation of cricketers back home.
