Netherlands make peculiar tactical request to GCA to counter India threat; Gujarat Ranji captain gets emergency call-up
When the Netherlands arrived at the Narendra Modi Stadium earlier this week, they made an unusual request to the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA). But why?
The Netherlands are not out of the T20 World Cup yet. Their qualification hopes may be slim, but they remain mathematically alive. Defeats to the USA and Pakistan dented their campaign, but a win against Namibia kept them on two points and fourth in Group A. A miraculous upset against defending champions India in their final group fixture, combined with favourable results elsewhere, could still take them through.
Netherlands' players during a practice session ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match against India in Ahmedabad (PTI)
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Despite the distant dream, the men in orange are leaving no stone unturned.
It is common for touring sides to request net bowlers from host associations, especially in subcontinental conditions where preparations often revolve around quality spin, left-arm wristspin or mystery spin in particular. But when the Netherlands arrived at the Narendra Modi Stadium earlier this week, they made an unusual request to the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA).
According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, they asked for a net batter, specifically, a left-hander.
Why?
The call was purely tactical. India have as many as six left-handed batters in their line-up: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh and Axar Patel. With no left-handers in their own top order, the Netherlands wanted to simulate the match-up as closely as possible in training.
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With Gujarat’s Ranji Trophy season over, the GCA scrambled to find a suitable player at short notice. Eventually, Gujarat captain Manan Hingrajia made himself available.
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With Gujarat’s Ranji Trophy season over, the GCA scrambled to find a suitable player at short notice. Eventually, Gujarat captain Manan Hingrajia made himself available.
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Hingrajia was training a few kilometres away when he received the call, asking him to report to the Narendra Modi Stadium by 6 pm. Unaware of the reason, the 27-year-old wrapped up his session, navigated the evening traffic and, upon arrival, was told to pad up and take strike in the nets.
He faced a mix of old and new balls, dispatching several deliveries into the stands.
Whether the session pays dividends for the Netherlands will be revealed on Wednesday. For Hingrajia, it was simply an unexpected extension to his day’s work.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Netherlands make peculiar tactical request to GCA to counter India threat; Gujarat Ranji captain gets emergency call-up
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