Preview | What to expect from Ireland vs India 1st T20I in Dublin?

Shubhanshu Sharma
Published on: 26 Jun 2018 3:40 PM GMT
Preview | What to expect from Ireland vs India 1st T20I in Dublin
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Dublin: After playing too much Cricket over the past few months, team India got a much needed break and is all refreshed and rejuvenated to take on Ireland in the two-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series, starting from Wednesday at 8.30 pm.

Many might be thinking that the two T20Is are just a warm-up procedure for the Virat Kohli-led side ahead of the very crucial three T20Is, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Tests series against England but no one can write off the potential of Ireland which has a tendency of upsetting the biggest teams in the sport.

Will Kohli's team India treat Ireland as minnows?

They have done it in the past and have all the capabilities to repeat it against India, which undoubtedly is a much better side if they do not underrate the Irish team at their home ground The Village Malahide here.

In next slide: Will India play a full-fledged side against Ireland?

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Will India field all the big guns against Ireland?

The other good news for Indian Cricket fans is that it will be the first time since the tour of South Africa earlier this year when a full-strength Indian team will be seen in action.

Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were rested for the T20 tri-series in Sri Lanka in March, while the former trio also missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Bengaluru recently.

In next slide: Lokesh Rahul or Ajinkya Rahane, who will be in the playing XI?

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Going into the first T20I, Kohli and the team management will have a sweet dilemma over the selection of the playing XI.

Also Read: Tim Paine finds Jos Buttler better than MS Dhoni

With a set opening combination in Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, and Kohli at No.3, Lokesh Rahul seems a likely starter for the No.4 spot in the absence of Ajinkya Rahane.

In next slide: Whom will Virat Kohli select between Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik?

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Will it be Suresh Raina or Dinesh Karthik in the playing XI?

It will be interesting to see whom among the trio of Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey get a game with Dhoni and all-rounder Hardik Pandya filling up the No.6 and 7 spots.

While Raina also provides a sixth bowling option combined with his batting, India would also not want to drop Karthik, who is in sizzling form since March. It could mean that Pandey eventually warms the bench.

In next slide: Who will play between Siddharth Kaul and Umesh Yadav?

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Will Kohli prefer IPL sensation Siddharth Kaul over pace-battery Umesh Yadav?

On the bowling front, Kohli will be tempted to field both leg-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, giving them an early taste of conditions here.

The pace battery will most likely be led by the established duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah even as Umesh Yadav will be eager to be back in the shortest version for India for the first time since 2012.

With Pandya as the third seaming option, it will also be interesting to see whether medium pacer Siddharth Kaul makes his India debut after an impressive stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

In next slide: These three players will be key against India!

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Ireland will depend on the experience of these three players?

For the hosts, skipper Gary Wilson, former captain William Porterfield and all-rounder Kevin O'Brien are the ones to have T20 experience against an Indian team.

In next slide: Which player will be in the spotlight?

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Simranjit Singh, who was born in Punjab, India, will be in spotlight!

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Punjab-born off-spinner Simranjit Singh, aka Simi Singh, will enjoy the spotlight of playing against his erstwhile nation.

In next slide: The Team India

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India undoubtedly will be the favourite in the two-match series but the hosts are capable of putting up a competitive show here. Let’s just hope for a good game of Cricket when the two teams meet tomorrow.

Here are the two teams:

India:

Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Siddarth Kaul.

In next slide: The Ireland team

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Ireland:

Gary Wilson (Captain & WK), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, George Dockrell , Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Kevin O'Brien, William Porterfield, Stuart Poynter, Boyd Rankin, James Shannon, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson.

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Shubhanshu Sharma

Shubhanshu Sharma

Writer has 6 years of experience in digital media. Presently working as Senior Sub Editor at newstrack.com. An avid reader and always willing to learn new things and techniques.

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