🏏ICC T20I Men's WC 2024: Match 8: India vs Ireland @ 8:00 PM IST🏏 - Page 2

Team Watch

India: Rahul Dravid remained tight-lipped, keeping his cards close to his chest, indicating his desire to maintain suspense until the start of the game. While the opening partnership remains a mystery, another significant selection dilemma revolves around choosing between Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh as the second pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Hardik Pandya is expected to serve as the third pacer and a sixth bowling option. Furthermore, both left-arm spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, are likely to feature, along with Kuldeep Yadav.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.

Ireland: Coach Heinrich Malan wants his players to believe that they can beat India. The Irish are known to surprise favourites, something they did in the last Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in 2022 when they beat eventual champions England. They beat Pakistan less than a month ago and their ability to surprise the strong opponents is something India must be wary of. Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker is a dangerous player.

Probable XI: Andy Balbirnie, Paul Stirling (c), Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young/Ben White, Josh Little

When: India vs Ireland, June 05, 10:30am Local, 8 PM IST

Where: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York

What to expect: It's the million-dollar question that neither Rohit Sharma, captain of India, nor Paul Sterling, the captain of Ireland, would have a clue about after witnessing what happened in the Sri Lanka and South Africa game. Both teams and spectators would hope that the drop-in pitch does not misbehave as it did in Sri Lanka's six-wicket defeat. Setting aside the unpredictability of the pitch, this should be a contest that India comfortably wins. One thing to look forward to is who will open for India with Rohit - Virat Kohli or Yashasvi Jaiswal?

Did you know?

- Since the last T20 World Cup, India have played 28 T20Is. The four senior players - Rohit Sharma (3), Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah (2 games each) - have largely been missing from these contests

- Virat Kohli averages 81.50 in T20 World Cups, scoring at a strike rate of 131.30. In run-chases his average goes up to 270.50

When the Indian team steps onto the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in Long Island on Wednesday morning, they will be greeted by hoardings proclaiming the Twenty20 World Cup, alongside the stadium's signboards. The Indian team might well interpret these as ominous signs from beneath the banners: "Caution: Danger Ahead."

Following the pitch fracas of Tuesday's match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, unpredictability has swiftly become the defining element of the matches of this World Cup, at least the ones of the New York leg. For the Indian side, this would well be a journey into the unknown, more like a game of Russian Roulette than a conventional cricket contest. South Africa will vouch for this.

While on paper, Ireland are not an opposition that can give sleepless nights to India but the uncertainty of the pitch conditions has added a new dimension to the contest. It nullifies the experience and the strengths of the Indian side. Despite recent victory over Pakistan and the triumph over eventual champions England in the last World Cup, the Paul Stirling-led team may find Indians to be an inexhaustible force, against whom they have never won in their seven face-offs. But it is unlikely to be a straightforward contest, unless the drop-in pitch, prepared in Florida with expertise imported from South Australia, plays true. Ireland, though, would hope it won't.

If India's worry is the unpredictability of the surface, unfamiliarity is the concern for the Irish side. With practice facilities arranged elsewhere in the Long Island, the Irish are yet to officially make an entry into the Nassau County Stadium. "We haven't actually seen the ground and it doesn't look like we're going to before the game," skipper Paul Stirling told Cricket Europe.

Rahul Dravid chose not to disclose the much-debated opening combination of the side, but it is most likely to be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with left-right batsmen following as the situation demands. India may have initially planned to go in with two left-arm spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, along with wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. However, after the experience of Tuesday's game, they may opt for an extra pacer instead of an additional spinner. This would bring both Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh into the lineup, with Axar Patel possibly having to wait for his turn. As is often the case with the Indian team setup, something Dravid himself would say, one spot remains up for debate - and it's a potential toss-up between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube. It is more likely to be Dube, as he adds depth to the bowling attack.

Ireland is known for playing fearless cricket, but the Indians are accustomed to such approaches, having just come off a highly competitive and adventurous two-month-long IPL. The contest may not see 200-plus totals like in the IPL matches; a score of 170-180 could be a winning total, unless the pitch has ideas of its own.

Today's Match Prediction: India to win the match

Scenario 1

IND win the toss and opt to bowl first.

Power Play Score: 30-40

First Innings Score: 130-140

India win the match

Scenario 2

Ireland win the toss and opt to bowl first.

Power Play Score: 50-60

First Innings Score: 175-185

India win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

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INDIA! INDIA!

INDIA! INDIA!

INDIA! INDIA!

Thank you Raji for the thread and for tagging me.

Jayaho India.