India Dominate Ireland in T20 World Cup Opener Ahead of Crucial Pakistan Clash
India kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Ireland in New York. The team, seeking their second title and first since the inaugural edition in 2007, put on a clinical display to roll over Ireland for just 96 runs in 16 overs, with Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh leading the bowling charge.
“Veteran batsman Virat Kohli, the leading run-scorer across all T20 World Cups, was dismissed early for just one run.”
However, captain Rohit Sharma picked up the slack, scoring a 36-ball fifty after being dropped on two by Ireland’s Andy Balbirnie. Rohit retired hurt with a shoulder injury, but Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 36 off 26 balls sealed India’s dominant victory, chasing down the target with 46 balls to spare.
The win sets the stage for India’s highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, a match they have won six out of the seven times the two teams have met in completed T20 World Cup fixtures, including in the previous edition in Australia last year.
Ireland’s Next Challenge
Ireland will look to bounce back from the defeat when they take on Canada on Friday in New York, while Canada will aim to recover from their opening loss to co-hosts USA.
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