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Sunday at T20 World Cup: It’s India vs Pakistan, and a debut for Netherlands

Sagar Thapa · 13/06/2026 · 4 min read

The Stage is Set for a Dramatic Double-Header

The intensity of the T20 World Cup continues to ramp up as we move from Saturday’s triple-header to a crucial double-header on Sunday. The day promises to be a historic occasion, highlighted by the fact that Sunday at T20 World Cup: It’s India vs Pakistan, and a debut for Netherlands. Fans in Birmingham are in for a treat as the tournament progresses with high-stakes encounters that will likely shape the narrative of the group stage.

Netherlands Make Their Historic Bow

The morning action begins at 9:30 am GMT with a historic milestone: T20 World Cup debutants the Netherlands take the field against Bangladesh. Birmingham, which hosted an explosive opening day featuring England and Sri Lanka, serves as the backdrop for this encounter. For Bangladesh, this marks their seventh consecutive appearance in the tournament, though they will be looking to improve upon a difficult 2024 campaign where they secured only one victory in four matches.

The rivalry between these two sides is relatively fresh but competitive. In a recent tri-series held in Scotland, the teams traded blows; the Netherlands secured an impressive eight-run victory, only for Bangladesh to respond with a 13-run win. Overall, the head-to-head record favors Bangladesh 4-1, but the Dutch side will be brimming with confidence as they step onto the world stage for the first time.

India and Pakistan Renew Their Intense Rivalry

The afternoon session brings the most anticipated clash of the day. From 1:30 pm GMT, India and Pakistan will lock horns in what is widely regarded as a must-watch spectacle. Despite the global excitement, the historical data reveals a lopsided affair: India, the current ODI champions, hold a dominant 6-2 lead in T20 World Cup meetings and a 13-3 advantage in total T20Is. However, in the high-pressure environment of the group of death, form guides often take a backseat.

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Team News and Strategic Considerations

Selection dilemmas are the theme of the day for the major camps. India is currently evaluating their bowling rotation, with choices to be made between pace options like Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, and the promising debutant Nandani Sharma. Similarly, the batting order sees Yastika Bhatia and Bharti Fulmali vying for a spot in the middle order to support the core of Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

Pakistan enters the fray with a slight concern regarding their skipper. Fatima Sana sustained a knee injury while bowling in the nets on Saturday, though she expressed optimism about her availability for the opener. Her leadership and all-round ability remain central to Pakistan’s strategy.

Players to Watch on a Global Stage

Sunday will see several stars looking to make their mark. For Bangladesh, 19-year-old Shorna Akter is set to reach her 50th T20I appearance. Known for her explosive boundary-hitting, she has been a revelation this year, striking at over 130. The Dutch side will rely heavily on the experienced Heather Siegers, who has previously delivered match-winning performances against Bangladesh, including a memorable half-century and a three-wicket haul.

India’s Shafali Verma, competing in her fourth T20 World Cup at just 22, will be desperate to find her rhythm against Pakistan after a quiet run in recent bilateral series. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Eyman Fatima, a 21-year-old finisher with an impressive T20I strike rate exceeding 150, looms as a significant threat in the death overs. Her ability to clear the ropes could be the X-factor Pakistan needs to upset the odds.

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Conditions and Captains’ Outlook

The weather in Birmingham remains favorable, with a cloudy but dry forecast and temperatures hovering between 13 and 19 degrees Celsius. Captains from all sides have expressed excitement about the conditions. Bangladesh’s Nigar Sultana is anticipating a high-scoring affair based on the surface’s behavior on Friday, while Pakistan’s Fatima Sana praised the Birmingham crowd for their appreciation of quality cricket regardless of the team. Addressing the media, India’s Harmanpreet Kaur maintained a focused, professional stance, emphasizing that the team is solely concentrated on the game of cricket and the task at hand for Sunday’s encounter.

Sagar Thapa

Sagar Thapa is a senior sports correspondent for The Kathmandu Post, regarded as one of the foremost chroniclers of Nepal’s remarkable cricketing ascent. A graduate of Tribhuvan University, he started his career covering age‑group and university cricket long before Nepal’s national team gained ODI status. Sagar has since reported on every major milestone in Nepal’s journey—from World Cup Qualifiers to the rise of stars like Sandeep Lamichhane in global T20 leagues. His deep understanding of spin bowling and the specific challenges faced by Associate Member nations underpins his widely read columns. Sagar’s work is known for its gentle authority, meticulously contextualising Nepal’s achievements within the broader international game. He has been honoured by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum and his own newspaper, and he remains passionately committed to telling the stories of the valleys, academies, and tournaments that are shaping the next generation of cricket in Nepal and beyond.