India National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Timeline: Complete History (2003–2026)

The India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline spans 23 years, five ICC tournaments, and five India victories- making it one of the most lopsided but contextually rich rivalries in world cricket. Every match has been played at an ICC World Cup. No bilateral series has ever taken place between the two nations. India lead the all-time head-to-head record 5–0 across three ODIs and two T20Is. Their largest win came by 160 runs in Bengaluru in 2023. Their narrowest win, just 17 runs, came in Ahmedabad in 2026- the closest the two sides have ever been. This article covers every match in full: verified scorecards, key records, statistical leaders, player-by-player impact, and the ICC structural context that explains why these two teams only ever meet when a World Cup is at stake.

Quick Answer: India vs Netherlands Head-to-Head Summary

The India national cricket team and the Netherlands national cricket team have played five official international cricket matches– three ODIs and two T20Is- between 2003 and 2026. All five meetings have taken place at ICC tournaments. India have won every match. Their victories have come across three continents: South Africa (2003), India (2011, 2023), Australia (2022), and India again (2026).

Stat	Figure
Total Matches	5
India Wins	5
Netherlands Wins	0
ODI Record (India)	3–0
T20I Record (India)	2–0
Highest Team Score	India 410/4- 2023 ODI WC
Highest Netherlands Score	250- 2023 ODI WC
Biggest Win	160 runs- 2023
Narrowest Win	17 runs- 2026

Last 5 Match Results at a Glance

Date	Tournament	Venue	Winner	Margin
Feb 12, 2003	ODI World Cup	Paarl, SA	India	68 runs
Mar 9, 2011	ODI World Cup	Delhi, India	India	5 wickets
Oct 27, 2022	T20 World Cup	Sydney, AUS	India	56 runs
Nov 12, 2023	ODI World Cup	Bengaluru, India	India	160 runs
Feb 18, 2026	T20 World Cup	Ahmedabad, India	India	17 runs

India vs Netherlands Key Records

The India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline has produced several records that extend beyond the rivalry itself.

• Highest team total: India 410/4 (50 overs), 2023 ODI World Cup, Bengaluru
• Highest individual score: Shreyas Iyer– 128* off 94 balls, 2023 ODI WC
• Best partnership: Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul- 208 runs for the 4th wicket (128 balls), 2023 ODI WC- the highest fourth-wicket partnership in ODI World Cup history (ICC Match Centre)
• Best bowling figures (India): Anil Kumble- 4/32 and Javagal Srinath- 4/30, both in the same match, 2003 ODI WC, Paarl
• Best bowling figures (Netherlands): Tim de Leede- 4/35, 2003 ODI WC, Paarl
• Best T20I bowling (India): Varun Chakravarthy- 3/14, 2026 T20 WC, Ahmedabad
• Closest finish: India won by 17 runs, 2026 T20 WC
• First meeting: February 12, 2003, Boland Park, Paarl, South Africa

Format-Wise Record and Win Margins

Understanding the India vs Netherlands cricket head-to-head requires separating ODI and T20I data- the two formats tell different stories.

ODI Record

ODI Win Type	Year	Margin
Batting-first win	2003	68 runs
Batting-first win	2023	160 runs
Chase win	2011	5 wickets (81 balls remaining)

Average ODI batting-first margin: 114 runs. India have been dominant with bat in hand in this format against the Dutch.

T20I Record

T20I	Year	Margin
Sydney	2022	56 runs
Ahmedabad	2026	17 runs

Average T20I margin: 36.5 runs. The 2026 match brought the T20I average down sharply- Netherlands mounted their most competitive chase in the rivalry’s history.

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2003 ODI World Cup- Where the Timeline Began

Match Context and Conditions

The India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team fixture on February 12, 2003, at Boland Park, Paarl, South Africa, was India’s opening match of the 2003 ICC World Cup- and it nearly became an embarrassment. Batting first on a green Paarl pitch, India were dismantled by Tim de Leede (4/35), who reduced them to 91/4 despite facing a lineup that included Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Sehwag, and Sourav Ganguly. Tendulkar top-scored with 52, but India were bowled out for 204 in 48.5 overs– a total far below what their batting lineup was capable of.

Turning Point: Kumble and Srinath Take Control

India’s bowling turned the match decisively. Anil Kumble (4/32) and Javagal Srinath (4/30) shared eight wickets between them, dismissing the Netherlands for 136 in 48.1 overs. India won by 68 runs– their narrowest victory in this rivalry, a record that would stand for 23 years. Tim de Leede’s 4/35 against a world-class batting lineup remains the most significant bowling performance in the entire India-Netherlands cricket history. It was a genuine statement from a side making their World Cup debut. India went on to reach the 2003 World Cup final, with this uncomfortable opening win as their launchpad.

Scorecard: India 204 all out (48.5 ov)- Tendulkar 52, de Leede 4/35 | Netherlands 136 all out (48.1 ov)- Kumble 4/32, Srinath 4/30. India won by 68 runs.

2011 ODI World Cup- The Home Advantage Match

Match Context and Playing Conditions

Eight years into the India vs Netherlands cricket timeline, the two sides met again- this time on Indian soil. The March 9, 2011 fixture at Feroz Shah Kotla (now Arun Jaitley Stadium), Delhi, came with the added context of India playing a home World Cup they would eventually win. Zaheer Khan (3/20) restricted the Dutch to 189 all out in 46.4 overs. It was a below-par total, but by no means a token score- the Netherlands showed improved batting discipline since 2003, with Peter Borren’s 38 and Pieter Seelaar’s lower-order contributions giving their innings some solidity.

Yuvraj Singh Closes It Out

India’s chase was functional rather than dominant. Pieter Seelaar (3/53) created pressure with regular wicket-taking, and India lost wickets at intervals throughout the chase. Yuvraj Singh- on his way to becoming Player of the Tournament at the 2011 World Cup- scored an unbeaten 51 to guide India home with 81 balls remaining.

Scorecard: Netherlands 189 all out (46.4 ov)- Borren 38, Zaheer 3/20 | India 191/5 (36.3 ov)- Yuvraj 51*, Seelaar 3/53. India won by 5 wickets.

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2022 T20 World Cup- The First T20I Between the Two Sides

Match Context: Super 12s in Sydney

The India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team meeting at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 27, 2022 was a landmark- the first-ever T20 international between the two nations. India entered the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 following a dramatic Super Over win over Pakistan. Against the Netherlands, they produced one of the most statistically impressive batting performances in any India vs Netherlands match. Rohit Sharma (53), Virat Kohli (62 not out), and Suryakumar Yadav (51 not out) all scored fifties in the same T20I innings- a remarkable concentration of batting quality. India posted 179/2 in 20 overs.

India’s Bowling Controls the Chase

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/9) strangled the Netherlands powerplay, and Axar Patel (2/18) removed the middle order. From a position of some competitiveness, the Dutch slid to 123/9 in 20 overs. India topped Super 12 Group 2 and advanced with momentum.

Scorecard: India 179/2 (Kohli 62*, Rohit 53, SKY 51*) | Netherlands 123/9 (Bhuvneshwar 2/9, Axar 2/18). India won by 56 runs.

2023 ODI World Cup- The Most Dominant Performance

Match Context: India Go Unbeaten Through the Group Stage

The November 12, 2023 fixture at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, was India’s final group match of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. Already qualified for the knockouts, the Indian team- under Rohit Sharma- treated this match as a batting showcase. Five batters scored 50 or more in the same innings: Shubman Gill (51), Rohit Sharma (61), Virat Kohli (51), Shreyas Iyer (128*), and KL Rahul (102). The Iyer-Rahul 208-run partnership for the fourth wicket off 128 balls is the highest fourth-wicket stand in ODI World Cup history, confirmed by the ICC Match Centre. India finished on 410/4.

Netherlands Post a Competitive Response

Despite facing an impossible target, Netherlands were not passive. Vikramjit Singh Nidamanuru scored 54, Tom Engelbrecht 45, and Bas de Leede took 2/82. The Netherlands posted 250 all out– a score that exceeded several Full Member nations’ totals against India during the same tournament. India’s bowling was shared evenly: Siraj 2/29, Bumrah 2/33, Kuldeep 2/41, Jadeja 2/49. India won by 160 runs, completing a 9–0 group stage- the first team in ODI World Cup history to win all nine group matches.

Scorecard: India 410/4 (Iyer 128*, Rahul 102, Rohit 61, Kohli 51, Gill 51, de Leede 2/82) | Netherlands 250 all out (Nidamanuru 54, Engelbrecht 45, Siraj 2/29, Bumrah 2/33). India won by 160 runs.

2026 T20 World Cup- The Closest Match in the Rivalry

Match Context: Ahmedabad’s Record Stadium

The February 18, 2026 clash at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad- the world’s largest cricket ground- marked the fifth chapter of the India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline. It produced the rivalry’s tightest finish. Shivam Dube top-scored with 66 as India posted 193/6 in 20 overs. Logan van Beek’s 3/56 was the standout Netherlands bowling performance, restricting what could have been a significantly higher total.

Netherlands Mount Their Strongest Chase

The Dutch chased with purpose throughout the innings. Bas de Leede contributed 33 in the middle order, and the required run rate remained manageable into the final stages. Varun Chakravarthy’s 3/14 was the critical bowling intervention that broke the chase open. Netherlands finished on 176/7– falling just 17 runs short. After the match, Bas de Leede said: “We’ve shown at what level Associate cricket is at the moment. We can only ask for more and more opportunities against the big teams.” The 17-run margin is the smallest winning margin in the entire India-Netherlands cricket history.

Scorecard: India 193/6 (Dube 66, SKY 34, van Beek 3/56) | Netherlands 176/7 (de Leede 33, Varun Chakravarthy 3/14). India won by 17 runs.

Statistical Leaders Across All Five Matches

Top Batting Scores

Player	Score	Year	Tournament
Shreyas Iyer (IND)	128* (94b)	2023	ODI WC
KL Rahul (IND)	102 (64b)	2023	ODI WC
Shivam Dube (IND)	66	2026	T20 WC
Virat Kohli (IND)	62* (44b)	2022	T20 WC
Rohit Sharma (IND)	61	2023	ODI WC
Rohit Sharma (IND)	53	2022	T20 WC
Suryakumar Yadav (IND)	51*	2022	T20 WC
Sachin Tendulkar (IND)	52 (72b)	2003	ODI WC
Vikramjit Nidamanuru (NED)	54	2023	ODI WC
Peter Borren (NED)	38	2011	ODI WC

Best Bowling Figures

Bowler	Figures	Year	Tournament
Tim de Leede (NED)	4/35	2003	ODI WC
Anil Kumble (IND)	4/32	2003	ODI WC
Javagal Srinath (IND)	4/30	2003	ODI WC
Zaheer Khan (IND)	3/20	2011	ODI WC
Pieter Seelaar (NED)	3/53	2011	ODI WC
Varun Chakravarthy (IND)	3/14	2026	T20 WC
Logan van Beek (NED)	3/56	2026	T20 WC
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (IND)	2/9	2022	T20 WC

Player-by-Player Impact

Player	Matches	Key Contribution
Virat Kohli (IND)	3	62* (2022), 51 (2023)
Rohit Sharma (IND)	3	53 (2022), 61 (2023)
Shreyas Iyer (IND)	1	128*- highest score in rivalry (2023)
Shivam Dube (IND)	1	66- top score in 2026 T20 WC match
Suryakumar Yadav (IND)	2	51* (2022), 34 (2026)
Anil Kumble (IND)	1	4/32- match-defining spell (2003)
Yuvraj Singh (IND)	1	51*- closed 2011 chase
Varun Chakravarthy (IND)	1	3/14- best T20I bowling in rivalry (2026)
Tim de Leede (NED)	1	4/35- best bowling in rivalry (2003)
Bas de Leede (NED)	2	2/82 (2023), 33 runs (2026)

Notable: Bas de Leede (2023, 2026) is the son of Tim de Leede (2003). Both played against India at ICC World Cups- a rare cross-generational fact in Netherlands cricket and a unique thread running through the India vs Netherlands cricket timeline.

Why India and Netherlands Only Meet at ICC Tournaments

The ICC Membership Structure Explained

India are an ICC Full Member– one of 12 nations holding Full Membership, granting Test status, guaranteed World Cup entry, and bilateral series rights with other Full Members. The Netherlands are an ICC Associate Member, one of 94 nations who must qualify for major tournaments through regional qualification pathways. Under ICC governance, no bilateral ODI or T20I series obligations exist between Full and Associate Members. This is why the complete India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline consists entirely of ICC World Cup group-stage encounters- not tours, tri-series, or standalone fixtures.

Netherlands’ Push for Full Membership

The Netherlands’ cricket board, the KNCB, has formally pursued Full Membership. The pathway requires minimum performance benchmarks against Full Members in ICC tournaments, strong domestic governance, financial sustainability, and playing infrastructure standards. Until Full Membership is achieved, the two sides will continue to meet only when World Cup qualification paths cross.

Venue Breakdown

Venue	Country	Year	Format	Result
Boland Park, Paarl	South Africa	2003	ODI	India won by 68 runs
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi	India	2011	ODI	India won by 5 wickets
Sydney Cricket Ground	Australia	2022	T20I	India won by 56 runs
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru	India	2023	ODI	India won by 160 runs
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad	India	2026	T20I	India won by 17 runs

India have won in South Africa, Australia, and on home soil– across three continents and five distinct venues. The Netherlands have shown their most competitive performances in T20I format, particularly in 2022 and 2026.

What the India vs Netherlands Timeline Actually Tells Us

The India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline is not a story of complete Dutch weakness. Four observations the data actually supports:

1. Netherlands’ bowling has historically outperformed their batting against India.
Tim de Leede’s 4/35 in 2003, Zaheer’s battle with Seelaar in 2011, van Beek’s 3/56 in 2026- the Dutch have consistently troubled India with the ball more than their batting has been able to respond with the bat.

2. The 2023 Iyer-Rahul partnership set a permanent record.
The 208-run fourth-wicket stand at Bengaluru is not a footnote in this rivalry. It is the highest fourth-wicket partnership in ODI World Cup history– a record set in what was technically a dead-rubber match.

3. The margin trend has no straight line.
Across five matches: 68 runs, 5 wickets, 56 runs, 160 runs, 17 runs. The 2026 match was not a natural progression of dominance- it was an outlier that reset expectations.

4. Bas de Leede’s presence connects 2003 to 2026.
His father Tim dismissed Tendulkar and Dravid’s teammates in 2003. Bas took wickets against Kohli and Rohit’s teams in 2023 and 2026. That continuity is unique in Associate cricket history.

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