In a stunning display of ‘explosive longevity,’ 41-year-old Netherlands veteran Roelof van der Merwe turned back the clock at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 18, 2026. During India‘s final T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match, the ageless player produced a moment of magic that silenced the Ahmedabad crowd and left the cricketing world in awe. His spectacular effort not only dismissed a set batter but also highlighted the immense spirit of a Netherlands side refusing to be intimidated by the tournament favorites.

IND vs NED: 41-year-old Roelof Van der Merwe produces magic to dismiss Tilak Varma

The defining moment of the Dutch fielding masterclass occurred in the 9th over, delivered by Logan van Beek, as India looked to rebuild their innings. Tilak Varma, who had reached 31 off 27 balls and was beginning to find his rhythm, launched a powerful, high-altitude strike toward the long-off boundary. While the shot initially looked destined to clear the rope or fall safely, Roelof van der Merwe had other plans.

Sprinting several meters from his position with the agility of a teenager, the 41-year-old tracked the ball’s trajectory perfectly as it swirled in the Ahmedabad night air. Just as the ball seemed out of reach, he launched into a desperate, full-length sideways dive, stretching his arms to pluck the ball inches from the turf with a sensational reverse-cup catch.

The sheer athleticism required for such a grab at his age left the commentators speechless and provided a ‘teaching moment’ for his younger teammate Michael Levitt, who had dropped a much easier chance earlier in the same over. Van der Merwe’s celebration was as fiery as the catch itself, cementing his status as one of the most competitive veterans still gracing the international stage.

Here’s the video:

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Netherlands spinner Aryan Dutt exploits Ahmedabad’s dry conditions to dismantle Indian top order

The match has unfolded as a surprisingly tense battle of attrition rather than the high-scoring ‘run-fest’ many expected from the Ahmedabad surface. India, having won the toss and elected to bat first, found themselves in early trouble as Aryan Dutt exploited the dry conditions to dismantle the top order.

The biggest story remains the historic slump of World No. 1 Abhishek Sharma, who was clean bowled by Dutt for a 3-ball duck, his third consecutive zero in this tournament. Shortly after, Ishan Kishan (18) was bowled in a bizarre fashion when the ball deflected off his body and into the stumps, leaving India wobbling at 44/2 within the powerplay.

The introduction of Tilak and captain Suryakumar Yadav stabilized the ship temporarily, taking the score to 69 before Van der Merwe’s ‘screamer’ removed Varma. As of the 11th over, India sits at 76/3, with Suryakumar (23*) and Shivam Dube (3*) tasked with a major repair job. The Netherlands’ disciplined bowling, led by Dutt’s clinical figures of 2/19, has kept the scoring rate under seven an over, proving that even a ‘dead rubber’ can produce elite-level drama when a giant-killer mindset is applied.

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