T20 World Cup 2024, Match 8: India commence their campaign with 8-wicket victory over Ireland - Cricket Winner

India started their campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup with an emphatic win over Ireland, showcasing their dominance in the tournament. Despite facing some challenges, India’s performance reflects its readiness for the competition.

Early Hurdles: Kohli’s Dismissal and Rohit’s Injury

India faced an early setback with Virat Kohli’s dismissal, but they quickly regained control of the game. Virat Kohli falls for just 1 run in the third over of the match. Kohli trying to hit Mark Adair over the covers slices the ball and gets caught at deep third man. However, the match took a dramatic turn when skipper Rohit Sharma had to retire hurt due to a shoulder injury, raising concerns among fans.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024, India vs Ireland: Rohit Sharma leaves the ground with unbeaten 52; Here’s why

Bowling Brilliance: India’s Strength

Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling performance earned him the Man of the Match award. His figures of 2/6 were instrumental in restricting Ireland to a below-par total.

India’s seamers, including Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj, showcased their skill and precision, easily dismantling Ireland’s batting lineup.

Rohit and Pant’s Power Show

Despite his injury scare, Rohit Sharma displayed aggressive batting, hitting consecutive sixes off Joshua Little, signalling India’s control over the game. And Rohit has retired hurt on 52. He points to his shoulder as he walks off the field. In comes Suryakumar Yadav. Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav accelerated the run chase, showcasing a sense of urgency to wrap up the match swiftly.

Challenges Faced: Pitch Conditions

The pitch conditions posed challenges for both teams, with unpredictable bounce and variable pace making batting difficult. Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant endured blows during the match, highlighting the need for better pitch conditions to ensure player safety.

India’s victory over Ireland marks a confident start to their T20 World Cup campaign. Despite facing obstacles such as injuries and challenging pitch conditions, India’s depth in talent and skill shines through.

Eight defeats in as many T20Is for Ireland against India

Most successive wins for India against an opponent (T20I)
8 vs Bangladesh (2009-18)
8 vs Ireland (2009-24)*
7 vs Australia (2013-17)
7 vs Sri Lanka (2016-17)
7 vs West Indies (2018-19)

India winning with most balls to spare in T20Is
81 vs Sco Dubai 2021
64 vs Ban Hangzhou 2023
59 vs UAE Mirpur 2016
46 vs Ire New York 2024*
41 vs Zim Harare 2016

Most wins as captain for India in T20Is
43 Rohit Sharma
43 MS Dhoni
32 Virat Kohli