India Quick Bowlers Demolish Ireland on Treacherous New York Pitch © Twitter (@KairavEngineer)
India kicked off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a dominant performance against Ireland, securing an eight-wicket victory on a challenging pitch in New York. The pitch conditions were a significant talking point, with inconsistent bounce making batting extremely difficult.
Match Summary
Ireland 96 (16) | |
| Gareth Delany 26 (14) | Hardik Pandya |
| Josh Little 14 (13) | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Lorcan Tucker 10 (13) | Arshdeep Singh |
India 97/2 (12.2) | |
| Rohit Sharma © 52 (37) | Mark Adair |
| Rishabh Pant 36 (26) | Ben White |
| Suryakumar Yadav 2 (4) | Josh Little |
Toss: Ireland won the throw and chose to bat
Stadium: New York
Result: India won by eight wickets
Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah (IND) -2/6 (3)
Toss and Team Selection
Ireland won the throw and chose for bat first, expecting to set a cutthroat aggregate. India’s selection strategy proved astute, opting for a pace-heavy attack with four fast bowlers—Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj—along with two spin-bowling all-rounders. This decision left Kuldeep Yadav on the bench, a move that paid off handsomely given the pitch conditions.
Ireland Innings Struggle from the Start
Ireland’s innings began under ominous skies, and it wasn’t long before the cracks started to show. Arshdeep Singh set the tone with the first two overs, where he and Siraj extracted unpredictable bounce from the pitch. One of Arshdeep’s deliveries even bounced a second time before reaching wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
Paul Stirling was the first to fall, top-edging a heave across the line at the start of the third over, giving India their initial breakthrough. By the end of the over, Arshdeep had also dismissed Andy Balbirnie with a ball that kept its line across the left-hander, knocking over his off stump.
Ireland found themselves in deeper trouble when Harry Tector, already struggling at four off 15 balls, gloved a short ball from Bumrah to short extra cover. Lorcan Tucker was bowled by a nip-backer from Hardik Pandya, reducing Ireland to 24 for four within the powerplay.
The wickets continued to tumble as India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. Even the introduction of spin couldn’t stem the collapse, with Barry McCarthy caught and bowled by Axar Patel. Ireland was reeling at 50 for 8, dangerously close to their lowest T20I total ever. Gareth Delany’s counter-attacking 26 off 14 balls provided a brief respite, helping Ireland limp to 96 all out in 16 overs.
Indian Bowlers Shine
India’s bowlers delivered a masterclass in seam and swing bowling. Hardik Pandya led the pack with 3 for 27, showcasing his ability to extract bounce and movement. Jasprit Bumrah, ever the reliable spearhead, claimed 2 for 6 in his spell, while Arshdeep Singh contributed with 2 for 35. The combined efforts of the bowlers ensured Ireland never found a rhythm, exploiting the treacherous pitch conditions to full effect.
India’s Chase Swift and Decisive
India’s chase of 97 started with an aggressive approach. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opened the innings, with both batsmen intent on capitalizing on the powerplay. Kohli, however, was dismissed early, caught on the deep-third boundary off Mark Adair while attempting to slap the ball over covers.
Rohit Sharma, undeterred by the loss of his partner, continued to attack. He enjoyed slices of luck early on, with an edge flying past the stumps for four and a tough chance dropped at slip. His aggressive approach saw him score a brisk 52, though his innings was cut short when he retired hurt after being struck on the arm by a rising delivery.
Rishabh Pant then took charge, displaying remarkable fluency on a difficult pitch. Pant hit three sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 36 off 26 balls, including a reverse-scoop six over the wicketkeeper to finish the match. Despite taking a hit to the elbow and another to the shoulder, Pant’s aggressive stroke play and calm demeanor ensured India crossed the finish line comfortably.
In Last
India’s emphatic victory by eight wickets was a testament to their strategic planning and execution. The match highlighted the formidable strength of their pace attack and the resilience of their top-order batters under challenging conditions.
As India celebrates this win, their attention now turns to the upcoming high-stakes clash against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. With the pitch conditions likely to remain challenging, both teams will be required to strategize carefully to handle the unpredictable bounce and seam movement.
