2014 remains one of the memorable years in the history of Dutch cricket. Under Peter Borren, the Dutch men’s team produced a miracle in the T20 World Cup to make it to the Super 10 after chasing 190 against Ireland in just 13.5 overs in Sylhet.
More than a decade later, Stephan Myburgh’s breathtaking 23-ball 63 still lives on in vivid memory, not just as one of their best, but as one of the most spectacular runs the tournament has ever seen. It was in this World Cup that the Dutch achieved another remarkable victory, beating England by just 88 runs in a stunning display.
But while the men were making headlines and inspiring a generation, in the same year the Dutch women’s team was simply struggling to survive. Back then, they didn’t even have T20I status and many players often reached into their own pockets instead of earning from the game just to continue playing the sport they love. There was also no full-time head coach, a painful reminder of how little support surrounded women’s cricket in the country at the time.
In the midst of this uncertainty, 15-year-old Babette de Leede made her debut for the Netherlands in 2014, carrying nothing more than hope and a dream. 12 years later, the youngster stands at the heart of a historic moment as she prepares to lead the Netherlands to their first Women’s World T20 Cup under full-time coach Neil McRae. What once seemed distant and fragile has finally turned into something beautifully real for Dutch women’s cricket.
“I made my debut earlier in 2014, but we didn’t have T20I status then. We’ve come a long, long way since then. Back then we had to pay for our own tours and trips and our coach wasn’t full-time. It gradually got better. Around 2019 or 2020, we got our first full-time head coach with us, who helped us a lot.” Babette told IndiaToday in an exclusive interview.
“We also started getting match fees or at least petrol money so it didn’t cost us to play cricket or attend training. We are now at the stage where we are earning match fees on the tour and some of the girls also have part-time contracts,” said Babette.
HAPPY BANG MOMENT
Babette de Leede to lead Netherlands at 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 (Getty Images)
Cricket has always flowed through the veins of the De Leede family. Babette’s uncle Tim de Leede etched his name into Dutch cricket folklore during the 2003 World Cup when he produced a man-of-the-match performance against India and even dismissed the great Sachin Tendulkar as his very first international wicket. Her cousin Bas de Leede has already taken the family legacy to the ODI and T20 World Cup stages.
Now the next chapter is ready to be written. Babette is preparing to represent the Netherlands at one of the biggest cricket events in England and Wales, adding her own story to a family that has long served Dutch cricket with pride.
Earlier this year in Nepal, the Dutch scripted a remarkable run in the qualifiers, winning five consecutive matches to book their place at the global event alongside Bangladesh. In 2018, the Netherlands achieved T20I status, a milestone that became a springboard for the team’s rise on the international stage.
“Oh, it’s just amazing. That moment still gives me chills. It was amazing because we set this goal 23 years ago as a team and to finally achieve it, to win our first five games and qualify for the World Cup with Bangladesh was unbelievable,” Babette said.
“We worked really, really hard on it. There were a lot of tears and a lot of joy. It’s huge for women’s cricket in the Netherlands. I really hope we’ve inspired a lot of young girls and we can continue that at the World Cup,” Babette added.
Babette has witnessed every phase of Dutch women’s cricket: from the era when the players struggled with limited resources and often contributed from their own pockets to continue playing, to the current position on the threshold of the World Cup. Therefore, the moment must have been surreal for her when they secured their place in the international tournament.
GOALS SET STRAIGHT
The Netherlands have been drawn in a tough group at the Women’s T20 World Cup (Getty Images)
Qualifying for the World Cup was a landmark achievement, but the challenge ahead is even steeper for the Netherlands. Pulled alongside forces like India, Australia and South Africa, the Dutch know there will be little room for error against some of the strongest sides in world cricket.
Still, Babette isn’t about to settle for just making up numbers. Qualification was never meant to be a goal for her. Reaching the semi-finals would probably require the Netherlands to upset the big teams in world cricket, but Babette believes this Dutch side is capable of springing a few surprises.
More importantly, he sees this World Cup as part of a much bigger journey. As well as chasing results at the moment, Babette also spoke about building consistency and ensuring the Netherlands qualify for the next edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
“Yes, we want to finish in the top eight so we don’t have to qualify for the next World Cup again. Realistically that means winning a few games, which I believe we are capable of. It’s a really good challenge for us and I’m very excited to see how we do,” said Babette.
“I think it will be an amazing opportunity for us to go up against the best in the world. We’ve never had the chance to play these teams before so it will be great to see how we stack up. We definitely want to compete, we’re not just going there for the experience. We’ve been training really hard and we’ll continue to do so. We’ll be looking to put on a strong performance and hopefully Babette can cause a few upsets.”
CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE
While Babette has been a familiar face in the Dutch scene for over a decade, the captaincy is still a relatively new chapter in her career. She took over as Netherlands captain in October 2024 after Heather Siegers stepped down to focus on recovering from injury. Under Siegers, the Netherlands showed steady growth and Babette was seen as the natural successor to lead the party into a new era.
However, the transition was not without problems. Babette admitted that the captaincy felt overwhelming at first as she tried to balance her own performances with tactical duties. However, over time, she settled into the role and began to take on additional responsibilities. What used to be challenging has now become something she truly enjoys.
“Oh, it’s been amazing. I’ve really, really enjoyed it. It was a bit overwhelming at first. Of course I had to focus on my own game as well as managing fielding, bowling changes and everything that comes with captaincy. So there was a lot to learn, even technically,” Babette said.
“Growing up I watched and played a lot of cricket so I had a good idea but not the real experience of leading a team. It’s something I’ve really grown into and enjoyed the process.”
“Captaincy just adds something extra to the game. Cricket itself is already complex and a lot of fun, but leading the side makes it even more engaging. I love everything about it,” added Babette.
Babette has had a promising start to life as Dutch captain. She has led in 40 T20Is so far and led the Netherlands to 29 victories, underscoring the impact she has already made as captain. Apart from her leadership, Babette has also continued in a big way with the bat and is now just 67 runs short of the 1000-run mark as a captain in T20Is.
Even behind the stumps, she remained sharp and reliable, making her one of the most complete players in the Dutch set-up. With her all-round ability to influence matches, expectations will naturally be high when she leads the Netherlands onto the field at the T20 World Cup.
A NEW LIGHT AWAITS
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, a quiet shift is underway in Dutch cricket and 2026 could mark its turning point. It’s more than just another season for the Dutch women’s team, it signals the start of a new dawn. In less than a month, the Lionesses will head out to face Bangladesh in their debut T20 World Cup match, bringing with them years of steady, often understated progress.
At the center of this rise is Babette de Leede, who now has the opportunity to take the Netherlands where her predecessors could not. Pioneers like Helmien Rambaldo, Juliet Post and Heather Siegers laid the groundwork as early as 2008 when the Dutch played their first T20. Babette built on this platform and led the party to a stage that once seemed far away.
For the Netherlands, a dream nurtured for more than two decades is finally becoming a reality. They may not enter the tournament as favourites, but it is a chance for Babette and her side to show they belong at the highest level. More than just participating, the Dutch will want to prove that they can stand side by side with the world’s best and show that they are here for the long haul.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
May 16, 2026 10:06 AM IST
