IND vs IRE: Ambati Rayudu predicts Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma to steal the show in T20 WC 2024 match vs Ireland

Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Ambati Rayudu shared his insights on Team India’s opening game in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland on Wednesday, June 5, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

Highlighting the significance of the opening pair for the Indian cricket team, Rayudu predicted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will open the innings for the 2007 T20 World Cup champions against Ireland, and the duo will be crucial in setting the momentum for the game in New York.

Ambati Rayudu predicts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to lead the Indian charge against Ireland

He further predicted that all the spotlight will be on the dashing right-hander Kohli and Indian skipper Rohit and their partnership against Ireland, as he feels they are going to set the momentum for the Indian cricket team in the opening game against Ireland as well as in the T20 World Cup 2024.

With the Men in Blue aiming to have a winning yet strong start in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, the former Indian batter emphasized the importance of an opening partnership between Rohit and Kohli in shaping the team's tone in the 20-team tournament in the USA and Caribbean.

Shifting focus to the India versus Ireland encounter in New York, the cricket expert singled out Josh Little as a key player in the Irish bowling lineup who should be wary of the Indian batters.

However, Rayudu’s predicted team has depth in the batting line-up, which has Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav apart from Rohit, and Kohli apart from Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.

He had also picked Axar Patel in his playing XI to strengthen India’s batting depth against Ireland. However, it remains to be seen which combination Rohit and team management go with.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will set the tone for India at T20 World Cup 2024

Well, given Little's familiarity with the Indian batters and their strengths and weaknesses having been part of the IPL for the past couple of seasons, Rayudu suggested that the left-arm pacer could play a significant role in Ireland's strategy against the formidable Indian batting lineup in the much-awaited game.

Ambati Rayudu said on Star Sports: “This is Spotlight and today we're talking about India and Ireland. I think for me the spotlight will be on the opening pair. I assume it will be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and I think they're going to set the momentum for this game. And going into the tournament, I think it's going to be a crucial, crucial partnership that's going to happen and I'm really looking forward to it. And for me, in terms of Ireland, I think Josh Little, who knows the Indian batsmen and their strengths and weaknesses, he'll play a major role in Irish bowling.”

Notably, Rayudu has picked only Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah in his pace attack for India’s XI for the T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland. Rayudu’s predicted XI for India vs Ireland: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.