A dominant India will look to fine-tune their combinations and rediscover top gear when they face the Netherlands in their final T20 World Cup league fixture on Wednesday.

While India have already sealed qualification for the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the focus will be on opener Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to hit peak form in the tournament.

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One of the most destructive batters in world cricket over the past 18 months, Abhishek has endured a rare lean patch. He registered a duck in the opener, missed the Namibia match due to a stomach infection, and returned against Pakistan only to fall for another nought.

Fortunately for India, Ishan Kishan’s sublime form at the top has masked the impact of Abhishek’s struggles. However, four ducks in his last six innings suggest that the 25-year-old may need to reassess his powerplay approach.

Opposition teams have clearly done their homework. Abhishek, who relies heavily on his fearless bat swing and clever use of the crease rather than a vast range of shots, has often targeted the deep cover boundary early in his innings. Rivals have responded by placing fielders strategically in that region, as seen against the USA and Pakistan, who also stationed protection at deep mid-wicket.

With the Netherlands fixture offering a relatively lower-pressure setting, it presents the ideal opportunity for Abhishek to rediscover rhythm before the knockouts.

Batting concerns against spin

India cruised past Pakistan thanks to Kishan and a disciplined bowling effort, but concerns remain over the middle order’s ability to dominate spin.

Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus troubled the Indian batters with his variations, while Pakistan’s Usman Tariq and even part-timer Saim Ayub managed to keep things tight in the middle overs.

Though the Netherlands spinners, Aryan Dutt and Roelof van der Merwe, bring experience, they are not considered to be in the same league as the attacks India have already faced.

Possible rotation in bowling

With Super 8 qualification secured, India may opt to rotate their bowling resources. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could be rested, allowing Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh to operate as the specialist pacers.

The likely spin combination could feature Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel.

Led by Scott Edwards, the Netherlands will need a significant upgrade in both departments to challenge the defending champions. They suffered a heavy defeat to the USA after an earlier win over Namibia.

Ahmedabad has produced high scores in the tournament, including South Africa’s 213/4 against Canada, but totals have dipped below 200 in the last two matches at the venue.

Even with India in action, filling the world’s largest cricket stadium on a midweek evening could prove challenging.