India vs Ireland, Ireland vs India, IND vs IRE
India vs Ireland (Credits: Twitter)

India vs Ireland Match Preview, IRE vs IND 2nd T20I. Ireland is all geared up to tie the 2-match T20I series against India at The Village, Dublin on 28th June from 9:00 pm. India won the first T20I by 7 wickets and 16 balls in hand. Due to the rain interruption, the 1st T20I was reduced to 12 overs for each side. India won the toss and they elected to field first in the 1st T20I. Things went according to the plan as Ireland lost their first two wickets for 6.

However, a superb knock from Harry Tector moved Ireland’s scorecard to 108 for the loss of 4 wickets. Indian openers started the innings aggressively. It was the 3rd over when they lost back-to-back wickets. But skipper Hardik Pandya and Deepak Hooda dominated the Irish bowling attack to chase the target in just 9.2 overs.

Harry Tector (Image Credits: Twitter)
Harry Tector (Image Credits: Twitter)

With the victory, India now has won all 4 T20Is against Ireland. They are on the verge of being unbeaten in the T20I series for the fifth time. They have won 9 out of 11 T20Is played this year. On the other hand, Ireland has 5 victories and 4 losses in 9 T20Is played this year.

India vs Ireland Match Preview, IRE vs IND 2nd T20I

It was clearly seen in the 1st T20I that the Ireland team lacks the resistance to fight against the top Test-playing nations. But a 12-over game doesn’t judge your overall performance. Most likely, Ireland will go with the same team for the second T20I. Skipper Andrew Balbirnie will open with Paul Stirling. Both openers failed to score big in the first game.

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While Andrew Balbirnie got out on a duck, Paul Stirling managed to score just 4 runs. Andrew Balbirnie has a strike rate of 140-plus at this ground. Batting all-rounder Gareth Delany will need to step up at the third place. He has an experience of 38 T20I games with 702 runs at a strike rate of 135.26.

Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie
Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie[photo: AFP]
Harry Tector was the only Irish batter that outperformed the Indian bowling unit. Harry Tector played an unbeaten knock of 64 runs in 33 balls that included 6 fours and 3 sixes. This was his second consecutive half-century score. Harry Tector has scored 174 runs in his last 4 T20Is.

Wicket-keeper batter Lorcan Tucker scored 18 runs in 16 balls in the 1st game. He will be in the playing 11 as Ireland doesn’t have an option for him on the bench. Ireland can try uncapped Stephen Doheny who finished the domestic season with 158 runs at an average of 52.67 in the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy. Except for Craig Young, Ireland’s bowling attack couldn’t handle the Indian batting lineup. Young took back-to-back wickets of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in his 1st over and finished the game with 2 wickets for 18 runs in 2 overs.

Craig Young
Craig Young Photo Credit: (Twitter)

He will lead the pace attack with Josh Little and Mark Adair. Mark Adair has 59 wickets in 40 T20Is. The debut game for Conor Olphert didn’t go as per the plan. But Ireland will expose him more to international cricket keeping the forthcoming 2022 ICC World T20I in mind. Indian batters are exceptional against the spin attack. Instead of Andy McBrine, Ireland should go for bowling all-rounder Curtis Campher.

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Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik
Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik Photo Credit: (Getty Images)

Hardik Pandya is on the verge of winning a T20I series on his debut as a captain. India tried Deepak Hooda and Ishan Kishan pair as openers. The plan worked in favor of India as Ishan Kishan scored 26 runs off 11 deliveries with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Deepak Hooda then capitalized on the opportunity to score 47 runs in 29 deliveries. Ishan Kishan’s strike rate is 156.75 in the last 6 T20Is.

This means Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had a calf niggle, will have a role to bat in the middle order. Suryakumar Yadav’s return didn’t go well for him as he got out on a first-ball duck. But his strike rate in T20Is is above 160. So, there is no problem with having an off-game.

Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, if fit will bat in the middle order. Hardik Pandya promoted himself to number 4 to score 24 runs with 3 gigantic sixes at a strike rate of 200. Dinesh Karthik and Ruturaj Gaikwad might see their places swapped if it comes to that stage for India. Axar Patel can also be the option for India in the middle order.

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya. (Photo: Twitter)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the bowling attack with Avesh Khan and Umran Malik. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 1 wicket for 16 in 3 overs that included one maiden over. Avesh Khan once again went for over 10 runs. So did the debutant express pacer Umran Malik.

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Though Umran Malik clocked 148 KMPH he went for 2 boundaries and a six against Harry Tector. He will still get his chances in the second game. On not so spin-friendly track, MOM Yuzvendra Chahal gave just 11 runs in 3 overs and took a wicket. With world cup preparations on the line, he will continue to be in playing 11 over Ravi Bishnoi.

In the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad, India are very much likely to hand over the T20I debut cap to Rahul Tripathi as Ishan Kishan’s opening partner for the second and final T20I match. It will be interesting to see whether the visitors will play Sanju Samson in the playing 11 or not.