The cricket narrative involving the India Women and Netherlands Women is not a commonplace competitive rivalry, yet it boasts a captivating history spanning over thirty years. These teams first competed against each other during the 1993 Women’s World Cup, revisited the contest in 1997 and 2000, and then returned to compete on the global platform in 2026 with a different format.
The encounter in 2026 at Headingley, Leeds, held particular significance as it marked the inaugural Women’s T20 International between India and the Netherlands. India showcased a remarkable batting performance, amassing 209 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs, then bowled the Netherlands out for just 114 runs in 17.3 overs. India triumphed by 95 runs, with Smriti Mandhana earning the Player of the Match accolade for her 74 runs off 47 deliveries.
This article details the entire timeline between India Women and Netherlands Women, highlighting previous World Cup encounters, the match scorecard from 2026, runs scored by individuals, wickets taken, key partnerships, and significant records.
India Women vs Netherlands Women: Complete Head-to-Head History
The historical one-day international record between these two sides reflects three matches, all of which ended in victories for India. These encounters unfolded during the Women’s World Cups of 1993, 1997, and 2000. In 2026, the teams faced off for the first time in T20I cricket.
The overall international timeline is as follows:
| Year | Tournament | India Women | Netherlands Women | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Women’s World Cup | 93/4 | 76 | India won by 17 runs |
| 1997 | Women’s World Cup | 175/8 | 82/9 | India won by 93 runs |
| 2000 | Women’s World Cup | 275/4 | 121/6 | India won by 154 runs |
| 2026 | Women’s T20 World Cup | 209/5 | 114 | India won by 95 runs |
Thus, India boasts an unblemished record of 4-0 across the four international encounters documented between these teams. The initial three contests were ODIs, while the 2026 clash was a T20I.
1993: The First Meeting Between India and Netherlands
The initial installment of the India Women versus Netherlands Women rivalry was established on 24 July 1993 at Beaconsfield during the Women’s World Cup.
Due to rain, the match was shortened to 35 overs for each side. India batted first, achieving a score of 93 runs for 4 wickets. Sandhya Agarwal remained not out with 42 runs, and Asha Jain contributed 32 runs. The Netherlands were bowled out for 76 runs in 34.1 overs, resulting in a 17-run victory for India.
India Women batting in 1993
The primary contributors for India included:
- Sandhya Agarwal – 42 not out
- Asha Jain – 32
- S. Dabir – 8 not out
- S. Gupta – 4
- V. Kalpana – 2
Agarwal and Jain set the stage with a solid opening partnership of 72 runs. The Netherlands faced challenges in chasing down the modest target, with A. van Lier scoring 28 runs and N. Payne getting 17 runs.
Leading India’s bowling attack were Diana Edulji and Purnima Rau, each taking two wickets. The Netherlands innings concluded at 76 runs, securing a 17-run victory for India.
That match in 1993 is significant as it signaled the onset of the international rivalry.
1997: India Win by 93 Runs
The second encounter occurred on 15 December 1997 at Ghaziabad during the Hero Honda Women’s World Cup.
Netherlands won the coin toss and decided to bowl first. India managed to score 175 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in a match shortened to 40 overs. Anju Jain led the scoring with 35 runs, followed by Chanderkanta Kaul with 28 runs and Purnima Rau contributing 27 runs.
Netherlands could only accumulate 82 runs for 9 wickets in their allotted 40 overs. Maartje Köster scored 18 runs, and Caroline Salomons added 10 runs. Ultimately, India secured a victory by 93 runs.
1997 bowling performance
Ariette van Noortwijk emerged as the top bowler for the Netherlands, achieving figures of 4 wickets for 25 runs. Despite her remarkable performance, India still managed to post a challenging total.
For India, both Purnima Rau and Deepa Marathe took 2 wickets for just 4 runs, applying significant pressure on the Netherlands’ batting order.
Interestingly, van Noortwijk was awarded Player of the Match even though her side lost, due to her impressive four-wicket haul.
2000: India’s Biggest Historical Victory
The third historic encounter occurred on December 2, 2000, at Lincoln Green in Lincoln during the Women’s World Cup.
This match set the record for the highest score in the early encounters between India Women and Netherlands Women. India amassed a formidable 275 runs for 4 wickets in 50 overs, then held the Netherlands to 121 runs for 6 wickets. The victory margin for India was a substantial 154 runs.
Who were the top scorers for India?
India’s batting lineup was particularly formidable:
- Asha Chopra – 69 runs off 112 balls
- Hemlata Kala – 56 runs off 40 balls
- Mithali Raj – 51 runs off 56 balls
- Chanderkanta Kaul – 39 runs not out off 37 balls
- Anju Jain – 32 runs off 54 balls
- Extras – 28 runs
Chopra received the Player of the Match award for her impressive 69. Kala’s aggressive 56 was notable for that time, while Mithali Raj’s contribution of 51 was essential for India’s middle-order stability.
Netherlands batting in 2000
The Netherlands concluded their innings at a total of 121 runs for 6 wickets.
Carla Verheul was the top scorer for her team with an unbeaten 46 runs off 54 balls, including eight boundaries. Caroline Salomons scored 22 runs, while CFF Oudolf remained not out on 1 run.
India’s bowling attack consistently kept the Netherlands below the necessary run rate throughout the match. The 154-run victory stands as India’s largest margin of victory in any historical ODI encounters against this opponent.
2026: A New Chapter in T20 Cricket
Following the 2000 World Cup match, the two teams did not compete against each other in a women’s international game until 2026.
This significant hiatus made the match on June 17, 2026, at Headingley, Leeds, especially noteworthy. It marked Match 10 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and was, importantly, the inaugural T20 International encounter between India and the Netherlands.
Netherlands captain Babette de Leede won the toss and opted to field. India quickly demonstrated their strength as one of the frontrunners in the tournament.
India scored 209 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs, while the Netherlands were bowled out for 114 runs in just 17.3 overs. India triumphed by a margin of 95 runs.
India Women 209/5: Comprehensive Batting Display
A remarkable opening alliance between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma propelled India’s innings.
Smriti Mandhana – 74 runs
The match’s highest individual score came from Smriti Mandhana.
Her statistics included:
- 74 runs off 47 deliveries
Her performance featured:
- 11 boundaries
- 1 six
- Strike rate of 157.44
Mandhana was ultimately dismissed by Caroline de Lange and caught by Iris Zwilling. She received the Player of the Match accolade.
Shafali Verma – 55 runs
Shafali Verma provided significant support to Mandhana at the start.
Her contribution was:
- 55 runs from 38 balls
This innings comprised 10 fours and had a strike rate around 144.74. Together, the opening duo amassed 115 runs, setting a solid foundation for India.
Other Indian Batsmen
Jemimah Rodrigues added 19 runs from 13 balls, which included two boundaries.
Richa Ghosh capped off the innings excellently with an unbeaten 20 from just 8 balls, featuring one four and two sixes.
Harmanpreet Kaur scored 12 runs off 9 balls, while Deepti Sharma made an unconquered 10 from just 2 balls.
Here are the key batting figures for India:
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
| Smriti Mandhana | 74 | 47 |
| Shafali Verma | 55 | 38 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 19 | 13 |
| Richa Ghosh* | 20 | 8 |
| Yastika Bhatia | 3 | 4 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 12 | 9 |
| Deepti Sharma* | 10 | 2 |
India concluded with a score of 209/5 at a run rate of 10.45.
Netherlands Women 114 All Out
In pursuit of 210 runs, the Netherlands required a very quick start.
They started well but lost wickets at critical moments as India maintained pressure. The Netherlands were eventually dismissed for 114 in 17.3 overs.
Top Scorers for the Netherlands
Babette de Leede was the leading scorer for the Netherlands with 28 runs from 27 balls.
Heather Siegers contributed 21 runs from 16 balls, while Sterre Kalis added 18 runs from 13 balls.
Phebe Molkenboer managed 15 runs from 20 balls, and Frederique Overdijk scored 9 runs from 7 balls.
Here are the significant batting figures for the Netherlands:
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
| Babette de Leede | 28 | 27 |
| Heather Siegers | 21 | 16 |
| Sterre Kalis | 18 | 13 |
| Phebe Molkenboer | 15 | 20 |
| Frederique Overdijk | 9 | 7 |
| Robine Rijke | 8 | 8 |
| Iris Zwilling | 8 | 9 |
| Silver Siegers | 1 | 2 |
| Myrthe van den Raad | 0 | 1 |
The innings for the Netherlands finished at 114 all out, resulting in a 95-run victory for India.
India Women Bowling: Who Secured the Wickets?
India’s bowling performance was also commendable.
Sree Charani emerged as the top wicket-taker, claiming 4/19, especially effective during the middle and later stages of the Netherlands’ innings.
Nandni Sharma played a vital role by taking 2 wickets, while Shafali Verma also contributed with 2 wickets as part of her all-round performance.
Deepti Sharma picked up one wicket as well.
This bowling display ensured that the Netherlands never approached the target of 210. Once wickets started to fall consistently, the chase became increasingly challenging.
Notable Records From the 2026 Match
The contest in 2026 generated several significant statistical achievements.
According to the ICC match report, India’s 209/5 represented their highest total in the Women’s T20 World Cup up to that moment, with the opening partnership between Mandhana and Verma contributing significantly with 115 runs to set the stage for the innings.
Richa Ghosh’s remarkable 20 runs off eight balls was another exceptional moment. Her impressive strike rate of 250 assisted India in achieving a formidable conclusion, whereas Deepti Sharma’s not out 10 off two balls delivered an astounding strike rate of 500.
For the Netherlands, de Leede’s contribution of 28 stood as the highest individual performance, yet the overall scoring pace of 6.51 for the team fell significantly short of India’s 10.45.
India Women vs Netherlands Women: Cumulative Records
The historical tally now reflects four wins for India from four concluded encounters.
The results for India are as follows:
- 1993: 93/4 against 76 — victory by 17 runs.
- 1997: 175/8 against 82/9 — victory by 93 runs.
- 2000: 275/4 against 121/6 — victory by 154 runs.
- 2026: 209/5 against 114 — victory by 95 runs.
According to the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians, India secured three ODI wins prior to the T20I in 2026. The most recent game extended India’s undefeated head-to-head record to 4-0.
The Most Significant Individual Scores in the Rivalry
Numerous players have made significant contributions during the four matches.
From the Indian side, the top individual performances feature Smriti Mandhana’s 74 in 2026, Asha Chopra’s 69 in 2000, Hemlata Kala’s 56 also in 2000, Mithali Raj’s 51 in the same year, alongside Sandhya Agarwal’s not out 42 in 1993.
On the other hand, Netherlands saw Carla Verheul’s not out 46 in 2000 as one of their outstanding individual displays, while Babette de Leede’s 28 was their highest score in 2026.
The Distinctiveness of the 2026 Match
The contest in 2026 illustrated the significant advancements in women’s cricket.
The inaugural match in 1993 was limited to 35 overs, with India only managing 93 runs. Seven years later, in a full 50-over game, India achieved 275 runs. In 2026, the side surpassed 200 runs in merely 20 overs.
This development is possibly the most captivating aspect of the India Women vs Netherlands Women history.
The 2026 innings capitalized on aggressive powerplays, boundary hitting, and a strong finishing sequence. Mandhana and Verma commenced with aggressive batting, while Ghosh and Deepti pushed the scoring in the closing overs.
Simultaneously, the Netherlands’ display indicated their progress at the elite level. Although they faced a hefty defeat, competing against a prominent cricket nation in an international T20 tournament offers invaluable experience for an emerging team.
Conclusion
The extensive history between India Women and Netherlands Women spans 33 years, comprising four international contests across two formats. India has emerged victorious in all completed encounters, starting with the 17-run win in 1993, followed by the 93-run victory in 1997, the 154-run success in 2000, and culminating in the 95-run T20 win in 2026.
The match in 2026 was the most dynamic chapter thus far. India posted a score of 209/5, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 74 and Shafali Verma adding 55, before dismissing the Netherlands for 114 runs. Sree Charani’s bowling figures of 4/19 were the highlight, whereas Babette de Leede’s 28 was the top score for the Netherlands.
From the low-scoring encounter in 1993 to the explosive 209-run T20 performance in 2026, the timeline showcases the remarkable advancement of women’s cricket. The upcoming match will add another chapter to this intriguing but brief international rivalry.
