![\"Still](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-128492447,imgsize-81690,width-400,resizemode-4\/abhishek-sharma.jpg\" "\\"Abhishek")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAHMEDABAD: Fresh from a morale-boosting 61-run win over Pakistan in Colombo, India will hope Abhishek Sharma<\/a> rediscovers form ahead of the Super 8s when they face the Netherlands in their final World Cup league match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday. The contest may not test the defending champions fully, but it offers a valuable opportunity to acclimatise to a venue where India will play their opening Super 8 fixture against South Africa on February 22, and potentially the final on March 8.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. <\/span>SUBSCRIBE NOW!<\/a>Despite the fixture\u2019s one-sided look on paper, a sizeable turnout is expected at the world\u2019s largest cricket stadium. \u201cWe are expecting more than 70,000 spectators. Around 70,000 turned up for the South Africa-New Zealand game here last week,\u201d Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Anil Patel told TOI. <\/p>\n All about Abhishek Sharma\u2019s lonely net session in Ahmedabad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n With India already through to the next stage \u2014 where they will face South Africa (Feb 22, Ahmedabad), Zimbabwe (Feb 26, Chennai) and West Indies (March 1, Kolkata) \u2014 staying mentally sharp for what is effectively an inconsequential tie could be the bigger challenge.The spotlight, meanwhile, is on Abhishek. The explosive left-hander arrived at his maiden T20 World Cup with considerable hype after 18 months of destructive opening batting, but has endured a barren run \u2014 dismissed for ducks in both matches he has played. In fact, the 25-year-old Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad batter has four ducks in his last six innings. He also missed the Namibia game in Delhi due to illness.India\u2019s strong start from Ishan Kishan<\/a> \u2014 the team\u2019s leading run-scorer with 158 runs at a strike rate of 197.50 \u2014 has masked Abhishek\u2019s lean patch. But against stronger opponents in the Super 8s, India would want their left-handed aggressor firing on all cylinders. Perhaps a slight recalibration is needed. Yet this is also the kind of game where Abhishek\u2019s high-risk, high-reward approach can flourish. Against Pakistan, he fell to Salman Ali Agha off the fourth ball; against USA, he perished first ball to Ali Khan.<\/p>\n 43.42<\/strong> – Suryakumar Yadav\u2019s average while aggregating 608 runs in 20 innings at a strike rate of 154.7, the highest among all batters in T20 World Cup. In the all-time list, his average is the third highest behind Virat Kohli (58.72) and Kevin Pietersen (44.61)<\/p>\n \u2014Stats: Rajesh Kumar<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n The Netherlands clash presents an ideal chance for him to regain rhythm. India\u2019s middle order, too, will look to fine-tune their approach against spin on surfaces offering assistance. Team combination could be another talking point. With three Super 8 matches in nine days, India may consider resting pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah<\/a>. If so, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh could share new-ball duties.On slower tracks, India opted for wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Arshdeep in Colombo. Whether they stick with Kuldeep remains to be seen. The Netherlands began the tournament brightly, pushing Pakistan to the brink and defeating Namibia by seven wickets. But a 93-run thrashing by USA in Chennai has dented their momentum. To compete against a settled and well-rounded Indian side, the Dutch will need a significant uplift.In their opening match of the T20 World Cup, South Africa made 213 for four against Canada here \u2014 the highest score in India so far in the tournament. If India\u2019s bevy of shot-makers get going, they total may be breached.<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n 11<\/strong> – T20 World Cup matches won by India in succession between June 5, 2024-Feb 15, 2026. The last 8 wins have come while defending totals.<\/p>\n