World Cup 2023, Match 2 | Netherlands Predicted Playing XI vs Pakistan

image-lndib5cgNetherlands will be playing their first game against Pakistan in World Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

The 2023 Cricket World Cup has kicked off in style and match 2 will see Netherlands square off against Pakistan in the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. This will be the first match of both sides and is slated to begin at 2:00 PM IST. 

Pakistan have not won a game since their defeat to India in Cricket World Cup 2023. The started off the tournament well but faltered in the Super Fours and then had to bow out of the tournament. The Babar Azam-led unit also failed to win their warm-up fixtures against New Zealand and Australia. 

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On the flip side, Netherlands hardly played any competitive cricket since becoming runners-up in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers. They toured to India a week before than every other team did and had a camp in Alur. They were defeated twice by the Karnataka State team in a practice game. It was followed by the warm-up fixtures of the World Cup where Scott Edwards and his men were a part of two abandoned matches- against Australia and India. 

As both these teams collide against each other once again, let us have a look at the predicted XI of the Netherlands Cricket team against Pakistan.


Openers: Max O'Dowd and Vikramjit Singh

In the absence of Stephen Myburgh, Vikramjit Singh is supposed to open the batting with Max O'Dowd. The former is a touch inconsistent with the bat but has the management's backing. O'Dowd is a special player and has a range of shots. He also showed glimpses of his potent in the 2022 T20 World Cup, scoring crucial runs for his side.


Middle Order: Wesley Barresi, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards and Teja Nidamanuru

Barresi is one of the most experienced player of the Dutch. He was a part of 2011 World Cup in India as well. Henceforth the experience he carries is priceless. Colin Ackermann has been in sensational form in the particular year. He gathered plenty of runs in the County Championship this year and will hold the forge in the middle order.

Joining them will be Scott Edwards who is quite flexible in the batting order. The skipper is one of their best players against spin and following are his scores against Afghanistan in the CWL games in Doha- 68 (82) 86 (120) 54 (74).

At no. 6-7, Teja Nidamanuru have cemented his place by glueing crucial runs when the team needed the most. There have been a lot of situations when Teja stabilised the ship when the group in orange was pushed against the wall.


All-rounders: Bas de Leede, Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe

The pace-bowling all-rounder duo of Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek form the core of this side. They can bat, they can bowl and most importantly, they can win matches with both. De Leede showcased his capabilities in World Cup Super League by taking a fifer and scoring a century in the same match. Van Beek is someone who can bowl with the new ball and can also play quickfire innings at the lower order. One of his heroics was against West Indies when he smashed five sixes to take the game into a Super Over which they won against the Island nation.

Roelof van der Merwe has earned a call-up into the side and brings a wealth of experience into the side. He was a key part in Sunrisers Eastern Cape's triumph in the inaugural edition of SA20 and has been playing cricket across various competitions.


Bowlers: Paul van Meekeren and Aryan Dutt.

Playing on Narendra Modi Stadium, Netherlands may opt to give an opportunity to Aryan Dutt who impressed during the Warm-up match against Australia. The spinner can bowl with the new ball as well as in the middle overs.

Paul van Meekeren is spearheading the Dutch bowling. It's been almost ten years that van Meekeren is a part of this side and is a match-winner with the cork in hand. The tall pacer has the ability to purchase nibble with the new ball and has good slower ones in his book to operate with the slower one.

Netherlands Predicted XI vs Pakistan

Max O'Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Wesley Barresi, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Scott Edwards (c and wk), Teja Nidamanuru, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, and Paul van Meekeren.