The current format of the men’s ODI World Cup and its qualifying tournaments are designed in a manner to ensure that only the top teams in international cricket manage to make it to the main event and then go on to succeed in it.

When the Netherlands defeated West Indies in a thriller in Harare five months back, few saw it coming. When they beat Scotland 10 days later to book a spot in the 2023 World Cup ahead of two-time world champions, there was a feeling that they might have already overachieved.

With nine Test-playing nations who had combined to play a grand total of 17 ODIs against them since the 2019 World Cup, survival would have been victory for Netherlands. But they clearly aimed bigger. “Our goal is to make the semi-finals,” said their poster-boy Bas de Leede before the World Cup.

While they were far from the semi-finals, the Netherlands did much more than just survive. Led by their skipper Scott Edwards, they fought, and fought hard. There were times when it seemed that they would crumble early into a match, but more often than not, they managed to scrape through to make a game out of them.

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By the end of the tournament, they had two victories to show for their efforts, two more than many would have imagined before the tournament started, and just one less than what the defending champions, England, managed to achieve. Their finest hour came in Dharamsala when they defeated South Africa, who had won each of the last three encounters against the Dutch in World Cups by 160-plus runs.

Only one of Netherlands’ batters scored 300 runs in the tournament. Only three crossed 200. And only one bowler took more than 15 wickets. That they managed to eke out two victories and push for a third against Sri Lanka despite no one having a standout tournament, speaks highly of how much of a team effort it was from the Dutch. Though it also makes you wonder, what if?

What if someone had a breakthrough tournament around whom the team could rally? What if Max O’Dowd, who initiated his ODI career with three consecutive fifties had continued that form into the tournament?

What if Bas de Leede, whose all-round brilliance in the World Cup Qualifier shot him into limelight, had continued in the manner he started the World Cup with the bat, scoring 67 against Pakistan in Hyderabad?

What if Sybrand Engelbrecht, whose journey has been one of the stories of the tournament, had scored his 300 runs just a bit quicker than the 66.67 runs per 100 balls he managed?

What if Scott Edwards, who scored 259 runs at an average of 37 including the match-winning 69-ball 78 against South Africa, had consistently batted higher up the order?

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Maybe the two victories could have jumped up to three. That would have earned them a Champions Trophy qualification. Or maybe four. That would have placed them in touching distance of a semi-final spot. But that is wishful thinking. For now, the Netherlands can be proud of the cricket they played and the fans they won over at the World Cup.

Netherlands players getting emotional after playing their last match of WC 2023.

Almost impossible to not like this team. I really wish they had made it to CT 2025 over the undeserving Bangladesh but here we are. pic.twitter.com/ouxfoCs3wv

— yang goi (@GongR1ght) November 13, 2023

From de Leede’s wink at Haris Rauf after hooking him for four to Roelof “Bulldog” van der Merwe’s vein-popping celebrations at every wicket. From Paul van Meekeren reminiscing about his ‘delivery guy’ days on social media to Teja Nidamanuru smashing six sixes in a whirlwind fifty against India. The Netherlands gave enough memories for viewers in stadiums and behind television screens to remember them by the next time they are in action. However, no one knows when that will be.

Always delivering @zomato pic.twitter.com/5jOsMnrqxx

— Paul van Meekeren (@paulvanmeekeren) November 11, 2023

The Netherlands don’t have an official post-World Cup schedule yet. With the ODI Super League scrapped, they are supposed to appear in the League 2 which forms a part of the qualification pathway for the next ODI World Cup where their oppositions will include Canada, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Scotland, UAE, and USA.

When and where their next ODI against a top team will come from, no one knows. And that, will be their biggest challenge going forward. To be able to make use of the momentum and exposure they have so deservedly gathered at the World Cup.