T20 World Cup 2026: ‘Every match is important’ – Kotak rules out experimentation in Netherlands clash

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has ruled out any chances of experimentation in the team’s final – and inconsequential – group-stage clash in the 2026 T20 World Cup against Netherlands at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on February 18.

India secured their berth in the next round with victories over USA, Namibia, and Pakistan, making the upcoming fixture a virtual dead rubber. But not for Kotak and India, who have their eyes firmly on the prize. Kotak reckoned that, with a Super 8s fixture against South Africa scheduled at the same venue on February 22, India could ill afford to rest key players.

South Africa have been based in Ahmedabad, having played and won all three games thus far, including the epic double Super Over affair against Afghanistan, followed by a seven-wicket thrashing of New Zealand. They had opened their campaign against Canada with a 57-run win. They will play UAE in Delhi on February 18 and will return to Ahmedabad to face India.

Ahmedabad could also host the final unless Pakistan reach that far, in which case the summit clash will be played in Colombo as part of India and Pakistan’s neutral-venue arrangement.

“Every match is important for us,” Kotak said. “On this ground, after this, the next match is on the 22nd (against South Africa). And the final can be here (too). So obviously, it is good for the players to get used to this condition.”

Kotak, however, did not rule out the possibility of changes in the XI that defeated Pakistan in Colombo, where India fielded three spinners and a lone frontline pacer in Jasprit Bumrah.

“I don’t think there’ll be any experiments. But yes, looking at the wicket and conditions, we might try something different,” he added.

Asked about Abhishek Sharma’s form – he is yet to open his account, having scored two ducks on either side of the clash he missed with a stomach bug – Kotak said that the team is not reading too much into it.

“We unnecessarily don’t over-analyse, because sometimes you only start making a lot of assumptions. So he is someone who has got his plan sorted and he follows the way he wants to, and obviously we discuss about the opposition, their bowling, their bowling strength, whatever they’ve been doing in the last few games they’ve played. All that is normal for everyone, not only for Abhishek.”

Kotak was effusive in praise for wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who will be coming to Ahmedabad on the back of a Player-of-the-Match 40-ball 77 show against Pakistan.

“He has always performed whenever he has played for India. And I think once he came back also, whatever I have spoken to him, he has always been a very confident player. I know him since Under-19 days, when he was with India A team. Before that, in 2016-17 he was in the IPL team (Gujarat Lions) where I worked.

“He has always had this strength, his nature. He’s not someone who cares too much about things, so the T20 game needs that. He’s very talented because if you see his innings, he’ll play everywhere in the ground. He’s someone who is very difficult to restrict if you don’t get him out. So that’s a great thing for the team. He’s (been) in a positive mindset since he came. And obviously he speaks to all the support staff and (the) captain. Since he came he looks very comfortable [sic].”