Bas de Leede Calls T20 World Cup 2026 a “Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity”, Seeks More Chances for Associate Teams
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Ahmedabad (Gujarat), February 19 :
Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede described playing in the T20 World Cup 2026 as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” after his team’s final match of the tournament, where they suffered a 17-run defeat against co-hosts India at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
Speaking after the match, de Leede said the experience of playing in front of a massive crowd was unforgettable. He also urged cricket’s top boards to provide more opportunities for Associate teams to play against stronger nations.
“It’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play for so many people. I hope everyone soaked it all in,” de Leede said.
Netherlands Exit T20 World Cup 2026 After Group Stage
The Netherlands ended their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with one win in four group matches. India and Pakistan qualified for the Super 8s from Group A, while the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA exited the tournament.
Despite a heavy loss to the USA, the Netherlands managed to challenge teams like India and Pakistan during different phases of their matches.
De Leede Wants More Matches Against Top Nations
De Leede said Associate teams have shown how much their standard has improved. He added that regular matches against top teams remain the only way for Associate nations to grow further.
He admitted that arranging full series against top nations can be difficult. However, he suggested a practical solution.
He proposed that touring teams could play warm-up matches in countries like Scotland or the Netherlands while travelling to England. He said such games would benefit both sides.
India Beat Netherlands by 17 Runs in Ahmedabad
In the match, India won the toss and chose to bat first. They finished with 193/5 in 20 overs.
Shivam Dube led India’s innings with 66 runs, while Hardik Pandya added 30. India recovered after early wickets and built a strong total.
During the chase, the Netherlands reached 176/7. Bas de Leede scored 33, and late contributions from Zach Lion-Cachet (26) and Noah Croes (25)* helped the Netherlands finish strongly.
However, India defended the total and sealed a 17-run win.
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