Team India set sail on their T20 World Cup 2024 endeavor in spectacular fashion triumphing with an emphatic eightwicket win over Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday June 5. Currently they stand proudly atop the Group A points table.
Arshdeep Singh, who chose to bowl first, wrought havoc on the powerplay, surprising the Irish team early on. Hardik Pandya then joined the celebration with a spectacular delivery to clean out Lorcan Tucker, before Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Harry Tector. Hardik added two more, while Bumrah added one, as Ireland was dismissed for 96 in 16 overs.
In response, Indian hitters appeared out of sync against the inconsistent bounce. Virat Kohli left cheaply, while Rohit Sharma got his footing after some early setbacks. The Indian captain achieved an amazing half-century before withdrawing injured after being whacked on the shoulder. Rishabh Pant also performed well, finishing with a six.
Some supporters were pleased with India’s performance and praised the team for winning the first game of the season. Here’s some reactions:
On the other side, a fan was dissatisfied with Indian batsmen, claiming they depended solely on slogs. He said:
“PANTRAGEOUS SHOT to finish the chase.. To be Frank, disappointed with our batting approach (IMO) All players who batted today looked to slog, not rather rely on playing quality shots n scoring runs..This Mindset Couple of Clean hits from Rohit & Pant is nice though!”
Another fan emphasized the benefits while also stating that the same wicket might prove lethal against Pakistani bowlers. He wrote:
“Hardik bowling & Hittu na batting – Positives to take! But if the same pitch, could be deadly against Pakistan bowlers…”
“Clinical show by India starting the tournament with absolute dominance,” wrote another fan.
“We will prepare as if the conditions are going to be like this” – Indian captain Rohit Sharma
Following a resounding victory, the Men in Blue will now prepare for the Pakistan match, which will take place at this location on Sunday, June 9.
Speaking about the high-octane match, Rohit Sharma stated that all 11 players must contribute against the Men in Green in order to come away with two points.
“I don’t know what to expect from the pitch, to be honest,” Rohit said at the end of the game. “We will prepare as if the conditions are going to be like this (for Pakistan game). This is going to be a kind of game where all XI of us will need to contribute.”
Rohit Sharma
India beat Pakistan by four wickets in their previous T20 World Cup match. They pursued a 160-run goal in Melbourne, owing to Virat Kohli’s masterful performance.