Suryakumar Praises Dube as India Edge Netherlands in Thrilling Finish

India, Feb 19 : India captain Suryakumar Yadav applauded Shivam Dube for his impactful all-round performance following India’s 17-run triumph over the Netherlands national cricket team in their T20 encounter.

At the post match presentation, Suryakumar expressed satisfaction with the team’s execution of its plans. Opting to bat first, India posted 193 for five in 20 overs despite dew making conditions tougher for bowlers later in the evening.

He emphasised the importance of understanding roles and building steady partnerships through the innings. While acknowledging occasional slow starts, the skipper underlined the depth in the batting line-up, highlighting the finishing abilities available in the squad.

Dube emerged as the standout performer, smashing 66 off 31 deliveries and claiming two wickets to secure the Player of the Match honour. Suryakumar noted that Dube’s aggressive approach in the middle overs relieved pressure and helped propel the total to a competitive mark.

India’s innings was anchored by a key partnership between Dube and Hardik Pandya, while contributions also came from Tilak Varma (31) and Suryakumar himself (34). Early setbacks saw Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan depart cheaply.

Chasing 194, the Netherlands finished at 176 for seven. Bas de Leede (33) and Colin Ackermann (23) added stability in the middle overs, and a late surge from Zach Lion-Cachet (26) and Noah Croes (25 not out) kept hopes alive. However, disciplined bowling ensured India sealed a narrow yet controlled victory.

Despite the win, Suryakumar stressed that continuous improvement remains essential, reiterating that even successful outings offer valuable lessons for the team moving forward.