The eagerly anticipated three-match Ireland vs. India T20I series got underway on Friday, August 18, as the two teams squared off in the first game at The Village in Dublin. Jasprit Bumrah, a fast bowler, made his comeback after 11 months by walking out for the toss as the captain of India and choosing to bowl first.
With his very first ball of the innings, Bumrah quickly made his comeback known by destroying Andrew Balbirnie’s wood. In the same over, he also got rid of Lorcan Tucker, who had Ireland’s first over score at 4/2 when his poorly timed ramp shot ended up in Sanju Samson’s gloves. The other player making a comeback, Prasidh Krishna, dismissed Harry Tector to put himself among the wickets.
With only 31 runs scored, he also dismissed George Dockrell in the seventh over, sending back half of the Irish team. Ravi Bishnoi, a wrist spinner, also joined the fun when he first misjudged Ireland skipper Paul Stirling’s (11 off 11) delivery and then caught Mark Adair in front of the wickets, leaving Ireland reeling at 59/6.
Ireland passed 100 after a 57-run partnership between Barr McCarthy and Curtis Campher (39 off 33). McCarthy’s magnificent half-century (51* off 33), which enabled his team finish on 139/7, helped him advance his innings. Each of the three Indian bowlers Bishnoi (2/23), Krishna (2/32) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/24) took two wickets.
India’s reply got off to a respectable start thanks to the opening partnership of Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 off 23) and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who combined for 46 runs for the wicket in 38 balls. By eliminating Jaiswal and Tilak Varma (0) in quick succession, Craig Young restored Ireland’s position in the match.
India won by two runs on DLS due to a rain delay.
To the dismay of the crowd, just as the game was getting about to start, the heavens opened their gates and rain began to pour. Fortunately for India supporters, India was two runs in excess of the DLS par score and was thus given the game when no more play was feasible. With two games left in the series, the Jasprit Bumrah-led team now leads 1-0. X was awash with commentary in response to India’s tight victory.
Following are a few of the posts:
1st T20 Called off due to Rain
India Won by 2 Runs ( DLS Method )#INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/tNtPL8n9gH
— Spidey (@itz_karthik_off) August 18, 2023
Robbed but ok!
1st win as vice captain, wickets kept falling, he stood for team!#INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/w7ndwXWotp
—
(@WhyyySoMuch) August 18, 2023
Most T20I M.O.M Awards by Indian Captains
5 – Rohit Sharma
3 – Virat Kohli
1 – 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗵*
1 – Suresh Raina#INDvsIRE— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) August 18, 2023
It’s time to pack ur bags Hardik,
Shivam Dube has arrived with D ball#INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/ApY4SXm8DG
—
(@Hustler4CSK) August 18, 2023
Bumrah 2/24 (4) What a Performance
And He Won the Player of the Match
Boom Boom is Back
#INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/ehygNahmsK
— Spidey (@itz_karthik_off) August 18, 2023
The future is here
#INDvsIRE @Ruutu1331 pic.twitter.com/Gc1JIOI9fV
— msd_stan (@bdrijalab) August 18, 2023