In a landmark moment for Dutch women’s cricket, the Netherlands, captained by Babette de Leede, clinched their maiden berth at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set for England and Wales from June 12 to July 5.
Currently second on the points table in the ongoing Qualifiers in Nepal with six points from four matches (three wins, one loss to Ireland). Young batting all-rounder Sanya Khurana, in the early stages of her career, has already been a part of a historic World Cup Qualifier campaign for the Dutch. She hasn’t played much of a part yet for her side, but definitely, the campaign will be a part of her learning curve.
The 20-year-old contributed 59 runs across four innings with the bat in the tournament, embodying the grit that propelled this underdog side to the global stage. Making her T20I debut against Italy in Schiedam on May 28, 2024, Khurana has wasted no time. In 20 T20Is and 12 innings since, she’s amassed 160 runs at a strike rate of 101.26 and an average of 22.85 with the bat, plus one wicket at an economy of 5.00.
Living in England and pursuing a business degree at Cardiff University, her journey from a tennis-playing schoolgirl in Holland to World Cup qualifier stardom is nothing short of inspirational. “I only started playing cricket when I was 14,” she revealed in an exclusive conversation with Vishal Yadav for Female Cricket. “So, it’s only been six years. But I used to play tennis.
“I got more opportunities through my school and then got into some of the county systems in England and then was playing a club cricket game and then one of them was like, “Oh, you play, is anyone got a European connection or anything?” And obviously, I was born in Holland. So, they’re like, “Yeah,” and then I got in contact with the coaches and then got in and it’s been unreal since.”
Sanya Khurana’s family fuels her fire; her dad and brother both play cricket.
She shared, “My dad and my brother both play cricket. It runs in the family, runs in the genes. The support I get from my parents, and obviously my brother as well, has been really, really good. Because of the love of it from all our families and everything, it makes me think this is actually something that I could do, and being part of a team is a great feeling.”
Their raw joy at the qualification news still echoes: “My mum and my dad were there. My dad’s got a loud voice, so he was very, very excited. Obviously, my mum, I think she was a bit emotional at one point. It was unreal. Even when they were coming down, I don’t think it’s quite sunk in. It hasn’t sunk in for me. I still don’t think, I feel like we’ve still got a few more games, we still need to get there. I don’t know when it will sink in, but hopefully when it does, probably when we’re at the World Cup.”
Balancing elite cricket with academics remains a juggle, but Cardiff’s support helps. “It is a challenge. But the uni I’m at Cardiff University and the university have supported me quite well so I can take time off from uni and come here for three weeks or whatever. And still be able to train and still be able to get through my degree. But yeah, it’s a challenge with exams and assignments or whatever and obviously not being able to go to lots of lectures and stuff but yeah, it’s something that you just have to keep working on whether it’s working during rest days and stuff like that,” she said.
The dressing room magic has her starstruck. “It’s a feeling I can’t put words to,” Khurana gushes.
“This is probably the best team I’ve played in; everyone’s so close and welcoming, especially to youngsters.” Earning her squad spot felt “unreal,” with belief running high: “We had the belief we could make it, and now I have goosebumps.” Her path blends rapid rise and hard yards: “It’s a bit of both, working my way up with lots of training back home.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Khurana eyes impact. “Understanding your role, striking from ball one in the end overs, and keeping the belief,” she feels, could be the key to success. “Our skill level is unmatched; we could do quite well as underdogs.” Resilience defines her mantra: “You’re so young, get a duck or misfield, and it feels like the world’s ending, but stay at it. There are so many opportunities.”
On some of the key focus areas for her and the team, she shared about delivering for the role. She said, “I think yeah for me it’s obviously always important coming into the team, understanding what your role is, and figuring out how you can impact and get the team to where you want to be. And I think for me as well, with the batting and stuff, it’s quite important to come in obviously and strike from ball one. Because usually I’ll come in for the end overs, where you just want to get as many runs as possible.
“For the team as well, just keeping the belief and everything is so important. Like it’s so cool that we’re going to a World Cup, but I actually do believe that we can do quite well in the World Cup as well. Being sort of like obviously the underdogs coming into a big tournament but I think the skill level we have in this team is unmatched and I think it’s quite possible that we could do quite well.”
For aspiring Netherlands orange-jersey dreamers, her message is simple: “Just keep going, try everything, stay in contact with cricketers, and put yourself out there. It could be you.” She even rallies the Netherlands men ahead of their India World Cup campaign: “Go out there and smash ’em, do what you do well and back yourself.”
At 20 (turning 21 soon), Sanya Khurana isn’t just along for the ride; she’s accelerating Netherlands women’s cricket into a bold new era.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.