T20 WC: India start off campaign with 8 wicket win over Ireland

India kicked off their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Ireland at Nassau County Stadium in New York.

Skipper Rohit Sharma’s half-century, Rishabh Pant’s finishing touches, and impressive spells by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were the standout performances of the match.

The run-chase of 97 runs saw Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opening for India. While Rohit survived a dropped catch and a close dismissal, Virat fell to a top edge. Rohit then partnered with Rishabh Pant to rebuild the innings, with some fine strokes. At the end of the powerplay, India was 39/1, with Rohit and Pant at the crease.

Rohit’s aggressive batting saw him reach his 10th T20 World Cup half-century in just 36 balls. Pant, on the other hand, kept the chase going with boundaries and sixes. After Rohit retired hurt due to an arm injury, Suryakumar Yadav came in but was dismissed quickly. However, Pant ensured India’s victory with a boundary and a winning six.

Earlier, the Indian bowling attack, led by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, restricted Ireland to 96 runs. Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj also contributed with crucial wickets. Gareth Delany was the highest run-getter for Ireland with 26 runs.

India’s comprehensive victory sets a strong tone for their T20 World Cup campaign, showcasing their depth in both batting and bowling departments.