In the first T20I match of the three-match series, India will take on Ireland at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground or the Village in Dublin today, i.e., August 18 at 7:30 PM IST.
The Indian team will be back in action after losing the T20I series against West Indies a few days ago. The team on the Caribbean Island had more experience than here in Dublin. The side, though, still has a wealth of talent with the likes of Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma, who will hope to get a game and make it count like Tilak Varma. With the ball as well, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar will try to enact the same performance that Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal did a few days back against WI. Furthermore, Jasprit Bumrah is all set to make a comeback after having back surgery around six months ago. As seen on BCCI’s social media platforms on the eve of the first Ireland match, a fit Bumrah in the nets was making batters duck and hop at bouncers and yorkers. The 29-year-old isn’t only returning, he also serves as the team’s captain.
On the other hand, Ireland are also in terrific form. Paul Stirling, one of their longest-serving veterans, has leadership duties. Ireland’s roster for the India games is made up entirely of players that helped their side qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup, and they also have an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 star in Joshua Little, who excelled for the runners-up, Gujarat Titans. Andrew Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, and Curtis Campher are now seen as seasoned internationals, and they were in terrific form throughout the 2024 T20 World Cup qualifiers. They are, nevertheless, going to be a colossal underdog in this game.
Head-to-Head:
India and Ireland have competed in five T20I matches against each other, and the Men In Blue have come out victorious in every game.
Where-to-watch:
TV: Sports18
OTT: JioCinema