Team India start their 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland as they look to go all the way to secure their second T20I title after picking up a historic win at the inaugural T20 World Cup back in 2007.
The No. 1 T20I side in the world are the overwhelming favourites in this matchup and will look to finalise all the minute details.
One big question on everyone’s mind is: whether or not Virat Kohli will open alongside Rohit Sharma. Yashasvi Jaiswal is of course the other option, but he did not play in India’s warm-up game against Bangladesh, for which he was available, unlike Kohli. It was Sanju Samson who opened with Sharma. Opening with Kohli will allow India to play Suryakumar Yadav in his preferred spot of No. 3 and possibly face more balls.
Yadav, the world no. 1 T20I batter, will play an important role for India’s campaign. Should Kohli open with Sharma, it will be Yadav’s responsibility to not only keep the scoreboard going but also bat out with the relatively underperforming middle and lower order. Rishabh Pant will be returning to international cricket for the first time since his horrific crash, while Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya will be two key pillars for India in the death overs. Pandya will be key for India, in particular, be it with ball or bat. If he has a strong tournament, there won’t be many who could stop India from lifting their second T20 World Cup trophy.
India’s bowling should be one of the main concerns, with their pace bowling line-up outside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj not having much experience. While the pitches in the US have shown that they have something for the pacers, the Caribbean surfaces will help the Indian spinners, with Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal set to play an important role. Arshdeep Singh is one option should India look to play a left-arm seamer. Singh is also more handy in the death overs compared to Siraj.
Ireland have quite a number of handy players in the likes of Andy Balbirine and Lorcan Tucker, both of whom have been in strong form with the bat, while Mark Adair and Craig Young will be key for the Irish with the ball.
While games aren’t won on paper and India will not be taking any team lightly, the Men in Blue should leave New York with a win against Ireland.
Venue: New York
Winner Prediction: India
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