IND VS IRE MATCH 8

Right then, with India clinching a commanding victory over Ireland and securing those crucial two points, the team now gears up for their next challenge against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Ireland will be focusing on bouncing back strong against Canada in their upcoming game. But the action continues in this ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 as next up is the battle of the two associates Uganda and Papua New Guinea on Thursday, 6th June and the first ball will be bowled at 5 am IST (11.30 pm GMT, the previous day). Following that, Australia will take on Oman, and that game will begin at 6 am IST (12.30 am GMT). Till then, cheers and take care.

The captain of India, Rohit Sharma, says that they were quite unsure of what to expect with it being a new ground and a drop-in pitch, which is why they wanted to bowl first. Feels that it is all about getting used to the conditions quickly. Shares that the wicket did not settle down even in the second half, and there was still something in it for the bowlers. He adds that he is happy to get the two points. States that it is important to stick to the basics and bowl Test match lines on such surfaces. Says that Arshdeep Singh set the tone for them, swinging the ball back into the right-handers. Opines that they want to have the right balance, which is why they have taken 4 spinners in the squad and feels that spin will come into play as we move ahead in the tournament. When asked about what his expectations are regarding the pitch for the game against Pakistan, he replies that they don't know what to expect but will prepare as if the surface will behave the same as it did in this game. Further says that they will regroup and assess what needs to be done. On his knock, he feels that it was a scratchy inning, but he is happy to have spent time out in the middle and was able to know what kind of shots to play on such pitches.

Paul Stirling, the skipper of Ireland says it was a tough one and the toss played a crucial part. Says they kept losing wickets in the first innings and the Indian bowlers didn't miss their marks and kept bowling on good lines and lengths. Says they probably weren't up to the challenge. Adds they will be back here at the same venue in a couple of days and ends by saying they will give a good crack against Canada in their next game.

Jasprit Bumrah is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliance with the ball. He says that he does not mind seeing the ball seam around and with some pace too. Feels that it is important to be proactive in T20 cricket and have to assess the conditions as quickly as one could. Adds that the new ball was doing something when they played the warm-up game and they tried to use it in this game. Shares that when the seam goes down, it gets easier to bat on such surfaces. End by saying that he is happy with the performance.

The presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, India decided to let Ireland bat first, and it turned out to be a great call for Rohit and his men. The Indian bowlers took full advantage of the pitch, with Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj keeping the Irish batters on their toes. Arshdeep delivered a double whammy within the Powerplay. The conditions for batting were tough, and the Indian bowlers completely decimated the opposition. Hardik Pandya snagged three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh took two each. Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel chipped in with one wicket apiece. Overall, it was a top-notch performance with the ball as India held Ireland to squeeze them under 100 runs. Gareth Delany and Joshua Little added some crucial runs towards the backend. In the chase, after losing Virat Kohli very early, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant notched up a brilliant partnership with the former mounting an aggressive fifty and the latter striking a quickfire 36, which helped India to register the first win in the group stage with 8 wickets remaining.

Ireland needed early wickets since they didn't have too many runs on the board. With the pitch heavily favoring the bowlers, they asked some tough questions of the Indian batters right from the start. The ball was moving sharply, both in and out. They would've got two early wickets had Andy Balbirnie grabbed that catch of Rohit in the first slip in the very first over. Mark Adair reaped the reward early by claiming the prized wicket of Virat Kohli. But after that, they couldn't manage to get any breakthroughs, and with not much on the board to defend, they were always behind the eight ball. Ben White took a wicket to his name but it was nothing more than a consolation.

RISHABH PANT FINISHES OFF IN STYLE IN AN AUDACIOUS MANNER!!! India register their first win and commence their T20 World Cup journey by decimating Ireland with a dominating win. Chasing a modest target of 97, the Indian batters initially struggled with the variable and unpredictable bounce. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli found it tough going at the start, with the pitch playing tricks. Kohli tried to go on the attack but was dismissed for just 1. Rohit, after a cautious start, settled in and hit a couple of quick boundaries. Rohit along with Rishabh Pant then stitched a good partnership and both cautiously negotiated the tricky conditions. Both played percentage cricket, capitalizing on the loose deliveries without taking unnecessary risks. Rohit then unleashed his trademark pull shots, sending two balls sailing into the stands and also notching up the 50, opening the floodgates before walking off the field retired hurt. SKY got out cheaply as well but the required run rate was never a worry for India. Rishabh Pant propelled India to their first win of this T20 World Cup with that brilliant six in the end.

SIX! OUTRAGEOUS FROM RISHABH PANT! A contender for the shot of the tournament! This has taken us back to Pant's audacious reverse lap against James Anderson during the Ahmedabad Test in 2021. Barry McCarthy bowls it on a length, on off, Rishabh Pant premeditates and brings out the reverse lap. Executes it to perfection as he gets it over the keeper and clears the fence with ease. Barry McCarthy is left bewildered. India win by 8 wickets!

Hits the deck hard, on off, Rishabh Pant looks to stab it down the deck. The ball takes off the deck and hits Pant on the left forearm. Pant has copped a lot of blows during his stay at the crease.

Pushes it through, flatter and shorter, on off, Shivam Dube gets on the back foot and chops it to backward point.

Turning into the right-hander, full and it is tempting for the batter to play the big shot. Shivam Dube calmly whips it to mid-wicket.

Shivam Dube has come out to the middle now.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Suryakumar Yadav tries to finish it with a maximum but holes out! Ben White offers flight nicely and keeps it full, on off, and middle, Suryakumar Yadav crouches to get underneath it and tries to get it over deep mid-wicket. Gets more height than the distance and skies it very high in the air towards deep mid-wicket where George Dockrell runs in off the ropes and takes a well-judged catch looking into the sun.

Loops it right up to the batter, on off, Rishabh Pant uses his feet and drills it down to long off for one.

FOUR! Cracked away! Dishes out the googly, full and on off, Rishabh Pant picks it early and makes room before smashing it over cover for a boundary.

Starts off on a nagging length, angling in, on middle and leg, Suryakumar Yadav goes on the back foot and turns it in front of square on the leg side for a single.