Inspired by Hardik Pandya, Bas de Leede aims for 'big man moments' in World Cup
India Today
Netherlands beat South Africa in the ODI World Cup hosted in India back in 2023. As they return for yet another world tournament, all-rounder Bas de Leede hopes to inspire them to consistency in big events.
India’s Hardik Pandya has left a lasting impression on Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede. The Dutch player, now 26, wants to emulate the Indian all-rounder’s big-match persona. Speaking ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, de Leede said that Pandya’s ability to rise under pressure is something he deeply admires.
Netherlands are drawn in the same group as India and Pakistan. The Dutch side will have to shuttle between India and Sri Lanka for their matches. The last time Netherlands played in India was during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they caused a major upset by defeating South Africa in Dharamsala.
However, de Leede and the rest of his team are now trying to move beyond their reputation as surprise performers and aim for greater consistency in global tournaments.
“It’s been about making strengths super strengths and getting more consistent at what I’m doing, whether that’s bowling or batting,” de Leede told PTI.
De Leede also spoke about Netherlands prioritising adaptability over rigid plans to cope with varied playing conditions.
“We had a preparation camp in Chennai, where we trained on different types of soil, trying to work out what works in terms of bowling and what the best game plan is in terms of batting,” he said.
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