18 August,2023 10:58 PM IST | Dublin | mid-day online correspondent
Jasprit Bumrah (Pic: AFP)
Almost 11 months after he hobbled off the field, Jasprit Bumrah will be cynosure of all eyes when he leads India against Ireland as the fast bowler's fitness and rhythm will be tested in the three-match T20 International series, starting Friday. The team is packed with India's Gen-Next IPL performers like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma but stakeholders in Indian cricket will keenly observe Bumrah, who will be key to home team's plans during the ODI World Cup starting in less than two months.
The 29-year-old Bumrah is coming back after undergoing a surgery to treat the lower-back stress fractures he had suffered during a home series against Australia ahead of T20 World Cup, last year. He will be bowling a maximum of just 12 overs across three games over five days but this series will allow chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, ODI captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid to get a fair idea of where the Gujarat slinger is placed in terms of match fitness. The 50-over cricket is, though, a different beast where he will need to bowl 10 overs across two, three or may be four-over spells.
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Just like Bumrah, even Prasidh Krishna is making a comeback to competitive cricket and before his lower back stress fracture injury which also required a surgery, the Bengaluru fast bowler was a certainty in ODI set-up.
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It is expected that selectors would check out Krishna's form before taking a final call on the Asia Cup squad expected to be announced by the end of this week.
It will be interesting to see how players and the team management balance individual and team goals while keeping the big picture in mind.
India: Jasprit Bumrah (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan.
Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Ben White, Craig Young, Theo van Weorkom.
Wicketkeepers: Lorcan Tucker, Sanju Samson
Batsmen: Tilak Varma, Paul Stirling, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harry Tector
All rounders: Curtis Campher, Washington Sundar
Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah (C), Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
Ireland: Paul Stirling (C), Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Benjamin White, Joshua Little, Mark Adair, Craig Young
India (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah(c), Ravi Bishnoi.
Ireland (Playing XI): Paul Stirling(c), Andrew Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker(w), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, Joshua Little, Benjamin White
Jasprit Bumrah wins the toss and opts to bowl first against Ireland.
10:53 PM: India win by two runs
The rain gods were not kind to the Irish as the weather got in the way and India won by two runs via DLS method.
9:55 PM: Rain delays innings
If the match does not resume due to rain, India will be declared winners of the contest as they are 2 runs ahead via DLS method.
9:45 PM: 47/2 (6.5 Overs)
Rain seems to intervene just when Ireland claimed two crucial wickets of Jaiswal and Varma in blink of an eye. India are currently ahead on DLS.
9:35 PM: 33/0 (5 Overs)
Ruturaj Gaikwad with a sensational hook for a maximum off McCarthy. Finally, Gaikwad gets in his groove to lift up the crowd in Dublin.
9:29 PM: 16/0 (3 Overs)
Joshua Little and McCarthy have bowled a couple of brilliant and tight overs to damage India's flying start after the first over.
9:22 PM: 10/0 (1 Over)
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad open the batting for India in style as the left-hander gets two fours off the first over from Mark Adair.
9:16 PM: India need 139 runs in 20 overs to win
McCarthy has single-handedly got Ireland to a respectable score of 139 runs. He has smashed 51 off 33 balls with 4 fours and as many maximums. India would be disappointed how they finished the innings with 53 runs from the last five overs.
9:03 PM: 119/7 (19 overs)
Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have bowled brilliantly in the end to restrict Ireland under 150 runs. The 19th over from Bumrah goes for just a single run.
8:56 PM: 114/6 (17.1 Overs)
Curtis Campher 37 (29) and Barry McCarthy 31 (23) steady the innings with some spectacular shots on display. Ireland looking to take the charge against India now.
8:48 PM: 87/6 (15 Overs)
Bumrah brings himself back into the attack for his third over and now it is a big test for the batters in the middle with five overs left and 86 runs on the board.
8:39 PM: 72/6 (13 Overs)
Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar continue to spearhead the attack, while Campher and McCarthy try to hold the fort for Ireland.
8:32 PM: 59/6 (11 Overs)
The innings is turning out to be a one-sided affair. Mark Adair is gone after a DRS call from India.
8:25 PM: 51/5 (9 Overs)
Shivam Dube is bowling now for India, interesting choice. He did not bowl a single ball for the Chennai Super Kings this year. He gives away 6 runs from his first.
8:10 PM: 35/5 (6.5 Overs)
Prasidh Krishna claims a second wicket as George Dockrell gets caught by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Ireland batters are losing the plot here.
8:00 PM: 27/4 (5.2 Overs)
Harry Tector gets caught by Tilak Varma off Prasidh Krishna's delivery. India looks in complete control of the contest at the moment. Ravi Bishnoi in the next over cleans up the Ireland skipper as well.
7:53 PM: 21/2 (4 Overs)
Harry Tector and Paul Stirling have kept Ireland alive in this contest. They are pacing Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah at the moment who are hungry for wickets.
7:45 PM: 11/2 (2.1 Overs)
Lorcan Tucker 0 (3) caught behind by Sanju Samson bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. India off to a dream start and what a comeback this is from the pacer.
7:40 PM: 4/1 (0.4 Overs)
Bumrah strikes on the second ball of this contest after getting hit for a four in the first ball. Balbirnie 4 (2) out bowled by the pacer. India off to a fine start.
7:30 PM: Match begins!
India will be led by new captain Jasprit Bumrah, who will become India's 11th skipper in the T20I format. Bumrah is making a comeback into international cricket after nearly 11 months.
