Here’s what happened when India faced off against Netherlands in World Cup 2011

Team India will be taking the yard for one final time in the group stages as Netherlands brace themselves for a herculean challenge from the only unbeaten side in World Cup 2023. The Men in Blue will be colliding with the Orange Army, hoping to finish things on a high before heading into the knockouts.

In the history of the tournament, there have just been two meetings between them, one in 2003 and the other in 2011. In 2003, the Men in Blue endured an escape after being bundled out for 204 while in 2011, things could have been better for the Indian batting unit. Before India clash with the Netherlands for the third time in the history of the World Cup, here’s what happened in 2011 when the two sides met.

Winning the toss at Delhi, Netherlands elected to bat first and India faced some early resistance through the likes of Eric Szwarczynski (28), Wesley Barresi (26) and Tom Cooper (29). Despite the runs coming in, they came in at a pretty lazy rate and that is what caused Netherlands’ resolve to snap.

After the top three were sent back to the pavilion, the Indian bowlers had a sniff of the blood on the waters and they swarmed around the Netherlands like sharks famished for an eternity. Despite Peter Borren (38), the captain of the side chipping in with a late cameo, the damage was already done as India skittled their counterparts out for a paltry 189. Zaheer Khan was the leading wicket-taker for the Indians with figures of 3/20.

The Indian openers got off to a flyer through Sachin Tendulkar (39) and Virender Sehwag (27) but had a bit of a hold up in the center as they lost a flurry of quick wickets featuring the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli all falling quickly. 

However, on a track that was getting slower, Yuvraj Singh (51*) held onto his composure and went firing on all cylinders once the initial jitters were taken care of alongside a patient MS Dhoni (19*) who played the perfect two-to-tango to forge 52-run partnership for the sixth wicket that saw India home. Yuvi was awarded the Player of the Match for his unbeaten half-century and a couple of important wickets.