Countdown to World Cup: India Takes on Netherlands in Thrilling Warm-up Encounter

In the final rehearsal before their ICC Men’s ODI World Cup campaign kickstarts against Australia, India is set to lock horns with the Netherlands. This clash is scheduled for September 8 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, after India's previous game against England was washed out.

In the final rehearsal before their ICC Men’s ODI World Cup campaign kickstarts against Australia, India is set to lock horns with the Netherlands. This clash is scheduled for September 8 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, after India's previous game against England was washed out.

With the World Cup looming, India has almost finalized their playing XI. The only dilemma lies between Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan for the No. 4 spot. Both batsmen have showcased impressive form in the run-up to the tournament and are expected to be given a chance against the Dutch side. Anticipate all 15 players to feature in this game.

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In their initial warm-up, the Netherlands faced Australia at the same venue. They restricted the five-time World Champions to 166 in 23 overs, but rain intervened, halting the game with the Dutch at 84/6 within 15 overs.

Key Players to Keep an Eye On:

For India, R Ashwin is a pivotal figure. Brought in as a replacement for Axar Patel, Ashwin displayed commendable performances in the first two ODIs against Australia. This game offers him an invaluable opportunity to sharpen his skills ahead of the World Cup.

Netherlands' Logan van Beek emerged as a significant contributor, claiming 12 wickets with an impressive economy rate of 5.08 in eight matches during the Men's World Cup Qualifier. The question remains whether he can sustain this form and make a mark in the World Cup for his team.

The prediction leans towards India clinching victory, given the formidable strength of their squad, provided rain doesn't disrupt proceedings.

India's World Cup squad includes Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav.

On the other side, Netherlands' World Cup squad features Scott Edwards (c), Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad, and Sybrand Engelbrecht.

The Netherlands' best performance in the Men's ODI World Cup saw them reach the group stage in 1996, 2003, 2007, and 2011. However, they didn't qualify for the last World Cup. In contrast, India clinched victory in 1983 and 2011 but fell short in the semi-finals against New Zealand in the previous edition.

For those eager to catch the action, the IND vs. ENG warm-up match will be available for live streaming on Disney+Hotstar and can be viewed on Star Sports TV Channels in India.