Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal. Image: BCCI

In their first T20I match against Ireland on Sunday, Hardik Pandya made his leadership debut for India. Even though the game was largely postponed, it was eventually played with 12 overs on each side, and India won by seven wickets.

Pandya had a strong performance, scooping up a wicket and hitting 24 runs off of just 12 balls.
Yuzvendra Chahal, who bowled three overs and gave up just 11 runs while also collecting a wicket, was ultimately named player of the game.

Hardik Pandya and Andrew Balbirnie, India vs Ireland, IRE vs IND
Hardik Pandya and Andrew Balbirnie (India vs Ireland) (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

I Felt Like A Finger Spinner: Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal praised Pandya’s leadership of the team, praising the way the all-rounders provided his bowlers with the flexibility to carry out strategies.

“He gave liberty to bowl whatever I want to bowl. The atmosphere under Hardik is chill, he gave me the freedom to execute my plans,” Chahal said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal Pic Credit- BCCI

Chahal also said that it was difficult to bowl in cold conditions, “Very difficult (in these cold conditions). I felt like a finger spinner today. Sometimes it’s hard but you have to adapt to every condition,” said Chahal.

With seven wickets in hand, Team India was able to chase down the goal of 109 runs in just 9.2 overs thanks to the contributions of Deepak Hooda and Hardik Pandya, who each scored 47 runs off 29 balls and 24 runs off 12 balls respectively. Craig Young was the best bowler for Ireland, taking two wickets, while Joshua Little was content with just one.

Harry Tector’s unbeaten 64 earlier in the first innings helped Ireland post by 108/4 in the first innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Chahal, Hardik Pandya, and Avesh Khan each claimed one wicket for the visitors.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad could not bat as he got a niggle while debutant Umran Malik just got one over which went for 13 runs.

Also Read: IRE vs IND: Everyone Knows What Sort Of Calibre Bhuvnewshwar Kumar Has – Hardik Pandya After 1st T20I