Focus on Bumrah in a relevant series against Ireland

It has been only four days since India’s last T20I series, and it is tough to digest that the Men in Blue lost to the West Indies’ side that failed to qualify for the main round of the T20 World Cup last year. However, modern-day scheduling is so fast-paced the focus has already shifted to the next assignment. From one island country to the other, the Indian team are set to kick off their final T20I series before the ODI World Cup - three T20Is in Ireland. 

This, in fact, might be India’s most relevant set of games against Ireland. The series marks the return of Jasprit Bumrah after 11 months. His form and fitness will be the biggest takeaway away for India. The fact that he is the captain is an adjunct to his return to the Indian colours. 

Along with Bumrah, there will be keen eyes on Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna, both of whom are critical to India’s ODI World Cup plans and are returning from injuries. Prasidh last played international cricket in August 2022 and Washington in February 2023. 

Ireland’s perspective is quite different. They have failed to qualify for the ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, they have booked their spot for the T20 World Cup next year in June. With only 15 T20Is scheduled in these 10 months, Ireland’s eyes are only on the preparation for the T20 World Cup. Not to forget, it will be the biggest test for Paul Stirling’s limited time in the captaincy seat thus far. 

Things to watch out for

Time running out for Samson? 

The cries of giving Sanju Samson a longer run in the Indian setup are slowly dying down. For long, Samson has been on the fringes. The white-ball games in West Indies is the longest he has played at a stretch since his international debut in 2015. 

While that was the best chance at Samson’s disposal, he failed to make it count. The right-hander scored 60 runs in the two ODIs. On the three occasions he batted in the T20Is, he managed only 32 runs at a strike-rate of 114.3. Overall, he averages 18.5 in his T20I career. 

Due to the young squad sent to Ireland, Samson is expected to play all upcoming three T20Is. But the clock is ticking for him. A good performance may still cost him his World Cup spot as a backup. The damage is done. However, another inconsistent show will certainly end his World Cup dreams and probably his spot post the big tournament as well.

Balbirnie’s form

The former skipper Andy Bilbirnie relinquished captaincy duties after Ireland failed to seal a spot in the ODI World Cup. A giant of modern-day Irish cricket, Balbirnie’s spot as a player is under a scanner. Prior to the T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier, Balbirnie averaged only 19.5 in 22 T20I innings at a moderate strike-rate of 119.2. 

Since then, he has scored 108 runs in four innings against the likes of Denmark and Italy. However, with the limited matches at Ireland’s hands before the T20 World Cup, it is now or never for the opening batter. Also, Ireland would want more from one of their most experienced batters. 

Ground details and conditions 

The Village in Malahide, Dublin, is one of the major cricketing venues in Ireland. However, due to the lack of international cricket in the country, even this venue has hosted only three games since 2020, two of which were against India last year. 

It has been a high-scoring venue with first innings scores of 225, 108 (in 12 overs), 165 and 186 in the last four games. 

Spinners here have picked 34.2% of the total wickets, so the track has something to offer for both kinds of bowlers. 

In a bummer of an update, there are high chances of rain during the game. 

Tactical Nous

> The Indian squad is loaded with left-handed batters. There are two right-handers in the middle-order, out of which Samson is presumably the only certainty in the XI. Hence, his batting position can be defined by how long Ruturaj Gaikwad bats at the opening position. 

> Fionn Hand, in the Irish camp, is a hit-the-deck bowler. He can be a handy bowler to counter the threat of Shivam Dube. Also, Ireland would want to keep their spinners away from the attacking left-handed batter. 

Probable XIs

Ireland

Ireland have made two changes in their squad from the Europe Region Qualifier tournament. Gareth Delany and Fionn Hand are back in the setup at the expense of Neil Rock and Graham Hume. Delany, a leg-spin bowling all-rounder can replace Ben White. Hand can come in for Neil Rock, who played Ireland’s last T20I. 

Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling ( c ), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little

India

The Men in Blue have plenty of fresh faces to choose from. It will be interesting to see whom India pick between Ravi Bishnoi and Shahbaz Ahmed. Bishnoi will provide an attacking spin-bowling option while Shahbaz will lend batting depth. Similarly, there could be a conundrum between Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma. Rinku had a stellar IPL season, often pulling his team out of tough situations. However, Jitesh’s presence will evenly spread out the left and right-handed batters through the line-up.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma/Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi/Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah ( c ), Prasidh Krishna