Cricket: India to face Ireland in the 2nd T20I at Dublin
India will take on hosts in the second T20 International of three-match series at Malahide Cricket club in Ireland today. After the Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling attack restricted Ireland to 139 for seven in the series opener on Friday, incessant rain denied the middle-order batters an opportunity to prove their worth.
India defeated Ireland by two runs via Duckworth/Lewis method in first T-20 international to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Dublin. Chasing 140 for victory, India were 47 for 2 in 6.5 overs. Visitors were just 2 runs ahead of Ireland in DLS par score when rain stopped the game.
While the narrative for the series has centered around Jasprit Bumrah’s much-awaited comeback and Prasidh Krishna’s as well to a certain degree, these three games in Ireland were also seen as an opportunity for the other fringe players who are looking to make a case for themselves to get into India’s primary team.
Both Bumrah and Prasidh had pretty good outings in the opening game on Friday (August 18). In fact, Bumrah took just two balls to strike and ended up picking two wickets in his very first over and Prasidh struck in his first over as well. Both the pacers will be looking to carry forward that momentum as they look to get back to their best after long layoffs.
However, the batters would now hope for some much-needed time out in the middle as well after rain hampered their chances in the first T20I. Chasing a modest 140, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma before rain arrived and ruined any chances of the rest getting a hit out in the middle.
The next two games are definitely vital for the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube. While Samson needs runs to ensure he remains in the reckoning for a spot in the ODI World Cup, the likes of Gaikwad, Rinku and Dube will be looking to make an impression to ensure they are considered in future T20 fixtures on the road to the World Cup next year in the Caribbean.
For Ireland, it’s vital that they don’t go 2-0 down already with a game to spare especially against a second-string visiting side. They did exceedingly well to get to 139 after losing half their side for just 31. Barry McCarthy stunned India with a quickfire fifty but it’s the top order that needs to come to the party if Ireland are to put up a fight with the bat.
Squads:
Ireland Squad: Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling(c), Lorcan Tucker(w), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, Joshua Little, Benjamin White, Fionn Hand, Theo van Woerkom, Gareth Delany, Ross Adair
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah(c), Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Jitesh Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed
