That India were a strong side and a semi-final contender was widely acknowledged in the run-up to ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. But few would have foreseen the kind of dominance the hosts have unfurled in the league phase of the tournament, blowing away opponent after opponent. Even after the first seven wins, many had expected South Africa, the second-best team on display so far, to mount a challenge, but India's pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj proved too good for them. The home team will now take on Netherlands for their last league-stage encounter on Sunday, November 12, in Bengaluru. (Match Blog | Streaming | Preview | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
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Rohit Sharma's men are already assured a first-place finish in the group stage, which means the outcome of their game against the Dutch doesn't really matter in the qualification scheme of things. But the hosts would be hungry to maintain their unblemished record in this edition, and keep the juggernaut rolling ahead of the semi-finals.
The fact that the clash is slated on Diwali means it will be an opportunity for the Indian team to double the festivities on the special day. As for the Dutch side, who have been knocked out of contention for a last-four berth, the game will offer their last chance to test themselves against the best in a while, as they will have to wait for the next ICC tournament for that to happen. If they can somehow pull off a massive upset and defeat India, not only will that be a big morale boost for the Scott Edwards-led outfit, it will also give them a shot at participation in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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With that, here's a look at three key battles that could influence the outcome of the IND vs NED game at M Chinnaswamy Stadium:
Virat Kohli Vs Bas De Leede
India batting mainstay Virat Kohli seems to have decided to make this edition of the World Cup his own with a series of scintillating knocks. Kohli looks in ominous form and would love to head into the knockout matches with his 50th ODI century, that would take him past Sachin Tendulkar's record, done and dusted. To do that, he will have to navigate past the medium pace of Bas de Leede. The Dutch all-rounder has impressed with the ball and has 14 wickets to his name in eight games, with his best figure of the World Cup coming in the opening match against Pakistan (4/62).
Ravindra Jadeja Vs Scott Edwards
Ace India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's pivotal performances in the tournament had gone under the radar a little bit with the pace battery firing on all cylinders. But Jadeja burst into the forefront with a sensational five-wicket haul against South Africa in Kolkata. Not for no reason do many consider him India's most valuable player and he would aim to essay the same role against Netherlands. An interesting challenge for him would be to keep Dutch skipper Scott Edwards in check. Edwards is known for his innovative yet effective approach against spinners, and he would look to replicate that, albeit carefully, against Jadeja.
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Jasprit Bumrah Vs Sybrand Engelbrecht
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has returned from a lengthy injury layoff in seamless fashion, almost as if he never went away. Bumrah has architected India's lethal bowling efforts with a barrage of unplayable deliveries right at the start of the innings and relentless discipline in the ensuing overs. Any batter in the world finds it hard to negotiate Bumrah, and it would be no different for Dutch hard-hitting batter Sybrand Engelbrecht, who has put up a string of good scores in his last five games. Engelbrecht will seek confidence from his recent form and look to ward off Bumrah's threat before cutting loose.
