India will lock horns against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York on Wednesday to kick off their T20 World Cup campaign. India is always favorites in the major ICC events and the ongoing T20I showpiece is no different.
The Rohit Sharma-led team has some world-class players and it will be about executing their plans and skills in the big matches, which they haven’t done in the last 11 years. We look at the current form, head-to-head, players to look out for, and squads of both teams in our match preview.
Current form of Ireland: W W NR W L
Ireland has won three out of their last five matches. The Paul Stirling-led team also shocked Pakistan recently and thus they can certainly challenge the formidable Indian team. However, there is no doubt that they will need to come up with a collective effort.
Current form of India: W W W W L
India last played a T20I series against Afghanistan, which they won by 3-0. The Indian players were in fine form in the IPL and they will want to continue the good show in the T20I showpiece. The top-order is going to hold the key and as the pitches are slow in nature, the spinners will play a crucial role.
Head to Head: Matches: 7, Won by India: 7, Won by Ireland: 0.
Players to look out for: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah will hold the key for India.
Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Harry Tector, Josh Little, Mark Adair, and Craig Young will be the crucial players for Ireland.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.
Ireland’s squad: Paul Stirling (Capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.