PRE MATCH ANALYSIS
Follow UsThe two-match T20I series between India and Ireland did not come with a lot of hype, and on Sunday, bad cricketing weather dampened the mood further. But in terms of entertainment, and entertainment only, the two teams over-delivered in the first T20I.
The hosts Ireland, first, surprised the world by taking the attack to the Indians after being put into bat. They lost three early wickets, but an inspired knock from young Harry Tector, which featured plenty of pyrotechnics, took them to a total that was beyond competitive.
The Irish joy, though, did not last long as courtesy fine hands from Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda and Hardik Pandya, the Men in Blue cantered towards the finish line, chasing 109 down in just 9.2 overs.
In all, the contest featured 12 sixes and it proved to be an absolute treat for those who’d turned up.
READ: India win, but Harry Tector steals the show
Given this is a two-match series, it will be really hard for either team to have a proper objective but it goes without saying that India, come the second game, will be hoping for a much-improved showing with the ball. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/16) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/11) were excellent in the first game, but the other bowlers combinedly registered figures of 2/74 off the 6 overs they bowled.
Though this is a largely inconsequential series, the visitors would ideally be wanting their bowlers to bounce back, produce an imperious showing and get themselves back in top form ahead of the three-match T20I series against England starting next week.
Ireland, on the other hand, would be hoping to build on their spirited showing in the first game. In a way they exceeded expectations, but there is still room for improvement. Plenty, in fact.
On Sunday, their top three combinedly accumulated 12 runs — the second T20I is a chance for the likes of Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany and skipper Andrew Balbirnie to show how good they are. There is inspiration right in front of them in the form of young Harry Tector, who stole the show in the first game.
The second game is also an opportunity for the experienced pairing of Josh Little and Andy McBrine to redeem themselves. After the batters put up a par score on the board, the aforementioned two bowlers disappointed big time, combinedly conceding 60 off the 19 balls they bowled. McBrine, at least, had the misfortune of bowling against two right-handers on a short ground, but Little had an absolute mare in the first game, getting his radar completely wrong in conditions that had a fair amount of help for the seamers. The left-armer, in particular, would be itching to bounce back with a much-improved showing.
Granted rain stays away, we are in for another pretty fun T20 contest!
Will Umran Malik get a chance to redeem himself?
On Sunday, the much-anticipated international debut of Umran Malik turned anticlimactic as the tearaway bowled just a solitary over and ended up conceding 14 off it. Nerves seemed to take over Umran on the night as the speedster got his radar all wrong and was taken apart by Harry Tector.
Umran will have far better nights in Indian colours, no doubt, but what remains to be seen is if he will get the chance to immediately redeem himself.
Will the visitors back the speedster for a second game running, or will he make way for Harshal Patel, who was rested for the first game? Or will the management hand a maiden international cap to Arshdeep Singh, who for six T20Is in a row has been patiently cheering from the sidelines?
Hardik Pandya needs to step it up with the ball in hand
Since returning to the side, Hardik Pandya the batter has been exceptional. He had a series to remember against the Proteas, and once again in the first T20I in Ireland, played the situation to perfection by smashing an intent-filled 24 (12).
But Hardik Pandya the bowler, across the last six games, has been a liability, to put it bluntly. Pandya has gone at over 10 runs per over in each of his last 4 spells, and has registered combined figures of 1/87 off 7 overs since coming back to the side.
On Sunday, he got the crucial wicket of Paul Stirling but still ended up traveling for 26 off his 2 overs.
So, after an outstanding IPL — 8 wickets @ ER 7.28 — what’s suddenly changed?
In terms of length, there has not been much of a change post-IPL. In IPL 2022, he landed about 64% of his deliveries on a ‘good’ length or back of a length; since the start of the South Africa series, this figure has been close to 69%.
What Pandya has been guilty of, though, since returning to the Indian side, is not attacking the stumps enough; he’s been offering far too much width to the batters. In IPL 2022, Pandya hit the stumps in 18.5% of the balls he bowled; more often than not, his lines were tight. Across the last six games, however, this figure has dropped to 4.7%. A comparison below shows just how much the all-rounder has sprayed it around post the IPL.
Hardik Pandya with the ball post IPL 2022
While it’s great for India that Pandya has started to bowl regularly, it has now come to the point where the team needs him to find consistency.
Probable XIs
Ruturaj Gaikwad did not walk out to bat in the first game due to a suspected calf injury, and his fitness remains a concern. One of Tripathi or Samson will walk into the XI should Gaikwad not recover. At the same time, there’s a chance that Harshal Patel might return to the starting XI. Who he replaces is the question.
India: Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad / Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik / Harshal Patel
Expect Ireland to field an unchanged line-up.
Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Craig Young, Joshua Little, Conor Olphert
