Day four of the FIFA U-20 World Cup promises a sensational triple-header with high stakes and contrasting stories across venues in India. The action begins in New Delhi where Namibia begin their campaign against a disciplined Dutch side at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. With both teams aiming for an early lead in the competitive group, it’s set to be a fast-paced contest.
Attention then shifts to Chennai as the Netherlands return to action, this time against the UAE at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The Dutch, who have already shown their intent, will be keen to strengthen their push for a place in the Super 8s, while the UAE will look to spring a surprise in spin-friendly conditions.
The day ends with a marquee clash as Pakistan take on the United States. Pakistan will be looking to extend their winning streak, while the USA will be hoping to challenge one of the tournament favourites. Thrills are guaranteed in all three encounters.
When and where to watch
Netherlands vs Namibia in Delhi in Group A match at 11:00 IST
New Zealand vs. UAE at Chennai in Group D match at 15:00 IST
Pakistan vs USA in Colombo in Group A match at 7 PM IST
All the matches will be telecast on Star Sports with live streaming available on JioHotstar.
Here is a quick preview of the three matches scheduled for Day 4 of the T20 World Cup.
Match 1 Prediction: Netherlands vs Namibia in Delhi
Netherlands and Namibia face off in a crucial Group A match of the U-20 Men’s World Cup in New Delhi. For the Dutch, the match represents an opportunity to bounce back after a narrow three-wicket defeat to Pakistana competition in which they demonstrated resilience and competitive intensity, pushing the 2009 champions deep into the finals.
Historically, the Netherlands have had the upper hand against Namibia across formats. In T20Is, the Dutch have a slight edge, having won three of their last four matches, underscoring their advantage with both bat and ball.
That said, Namibia should not be taken lightly. The African side begin their World Cup campaign with intent, aiming to set the tone early. Playing in their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup, Namibia have established themselves as one of the stronger affiliated teams with consistent spirited performances in qualifiers and warm-ups.
Captain Gerhard Erasmus remains central to Namibia’s batting plans, offering stability and the ability to shift when needed. The bowling attack is well balanced, with all-rounders JJ Smit and Bernard Scholtz providing variety and control, especially when the conditions start to favor players later in the innings. Ben Shikongo and Ruben Trumpelmann are expected to play key roles in the pace department with the new ball.
Tightening up their performance in the middle and better innings and finishing their innings more effectively will be crucial for the Netherlands, as they have often let strong starts slip. Namibia, meanwhile, will look to capitalize on the early momentum, with their depth of all-rounders potentially proving decisive in what promises to be a close match.
Pitch Report
The pitch in New Delhi has been quite batsman-friendly, with an average first innings score of around 165. This will be the first morning T20I at the venue, so it’s worth watching how the surface fares in sustained sunlight. In contrast, over the course of 53 one-day T20 matches here, the average score drops significantly to 148. The weather is expected to play no role, with no rain forecast and temperatures hovering around a pleasant 22°C.
Expected playing XI
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c) (wk), Zach Lion Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren
Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (capt), JJ Smit, Malan Kruger, Zane Green (wk), Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo
Match 2 Prediction: New Zealand vs UAE in Chennai
New Zealand started with a five-wicket win over Afghanistan. Courtesy: AP
New Zealand take on the United Arab Emirates in Group D at the T20 World Cup in Chepauk, with the Black Caps a step closer to the Super 8s. After they started their campaign confident five-wicket win over AfghanistanNew Zealand will be looking to keep the momentum going and boost their qualification prospects.
The Black Caps enter the competition as firm favourites, backed by a strong T20I pedigree and a well-assembled squad. Their batting depth, featuring the likes of Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman, has given them stability and firepower, while the bowling attack offers variety through pace and spin. In the spin-friendly conditions of Chepauk, players like Mitchell Santner could play a crucial role in the middle overs.
Meanwhile, the UAE arrives with nothing to lose and a lot to gain. While they lack the experience of New Zealand at the highest level, they have shown flashes of competitiveness in recent years. Batsmen like Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu will be key to their hopes of posting or chasing a challenging total, while their bowlers will need to be disciplined on a surface that traditionally rewards patience and accuracy.
For New Zealand, a win would not only keep their winning run intact but also put them firmly in the Super 8s spot. The UAE, on the other hand, will look to defy the odds and keep their tournament alive with a statement.
Pitch Report
The Chennai ground has traditionally been good for batting in T20Is, with an average first innings score of 177. Chasing the venue has proved advantageous with teams batting second in three of the four T20Is played here so far, so after winning the toss, the option to finish first is preferred.
While spinners are expected to have a say, batsmen should also find value for their knocks. Conditions are set to be clear and sunny with temperatures around 29C.
Expected playing XI
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
United Arab Emirates: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (c), Aryansh Sharma, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Sohaib Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Arfan, Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Jawadullah.
Match 3 Prediction: Pakistan vs USA in Colombo
Pakistan and the United States will face off in a compelling Group A encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with both sides looking to make an early statement in the tournament. Pakistan came into the match under pressure despite a narrow win over the Netherlands, a game that exposed some batting volatility, although late-order knocks helped them make their way.
However, their bowling remains the main asset, with Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed consistently using the brakes and striking in the middle overs. This match has another significance for Pakistan. A win would go a long way in boosting their bid for a place in the Super 8s in a heavily loaded group.
Much will depend on the form of openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzad Farhan, along with skipper Salman Agha, who has rediscovered his touch at No.3. On a Colombo surface that often offers timely help to the bowlers before they emerge under the lights, their emergence at the top could set the tone.
The United States, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the tournament’s most intriguing dark horses. Their famous victory over Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup – sealed via a Super Over after a dramatic draw – remains one of the biggest upsets in recent cricket history.
The Americans also pushed India hard in their opening game Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliance denied them a memorable victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Shadley van Schalkwyk was outstanding in this match and rattled India with three wickets in a single over, although his efforts ultimately went unrewarded.
Led by veteran batsmen Monank Patel and Saiteja Mukkamalla, USA boasts a dynamic batting line-up capable of scoring quickly and building partnerships. Armed with the incisive spells of the new ball and clever death variations, their bowlers will look to capitalize on any dips in Pakistan’s batting.
With Super 8s qualification at stake, this clash promises to be a high-intensity contest that could shape the early trajectory of Group A.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo offered a close match in the T20Is with an average first innings score of around 147. The spinners are expected to play a significant role in making things difficult for the batsmen throughout the game. The weather is likely to be cloudy, but there is no immediate threat of rain.
Expected playing XI
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed
USA: Andries Gous (wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel (c), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 10, 2026
