Hardik Pandya’s all-round brilliance powers India to a win against Ireland in his first match as the captain

India took on Ireland in the first T20I of the two-match series in Malahide, Dublin on Sunday.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who enjoyed great success while leading the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022, was appointed as the captain for this series and he delivered an excellent all-round performance to take India to a seven-wicket win in his first ever match as the India skipper.

Pandya won the toss and opted to field first in conditions that were good for fast bowling but rain interrupted soon and the match was reduced to 12 overs a side game. The Indian bowlers used the new ball to good effect as they reduced Ireland to 22/3 in the first four overs of the powerplay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya and Avesh Khan claimed a wicket each to break Ireland’s back.

However, youngster Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker brought Ireland back into the match with a 50-run stand for the fourth wicket. Tucker was dismissed for 18 while trying to sweep Yuzvendra Chahal but Tector carried on and remained unbeaten on 64 off just 33 deliveries, powering Ireland to a competitive total of 108/4 in 12 overs.

Chahal was the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of 1/11 in three overs. India started off well as Ishan Kishan carried his rich vein of form forward making his way to a 10-ball 26. However, Craig Young brought an end to his innings and dismissed Suryakumar Yadav in the very next delivery to reduced India to 30/2 inside three overs.

Skipper Hardik Pandya walked in to bat after the fall of Yadav’s wicket and joined Deepak Hooda, who opened the innings as Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured. There was no respite for the Irish bowlers after that as the duo launched an assault and put on 64 runs in the next five overs. Pandya got dismissed for a 12-ball knock of 24 but he had done his job already. Hooda and Dinesh Karthik got together at the crease after that and scored the remaining runs with 16 balls to spare. Hooda remained unbeaten on 47 off just 29 deliveries whereas Karthik remained unbeaten on five.

Yuzvendra Chahal was adjudged the Player of the Match for his superb spell and India will go into the second match with an unassailable 1-0 lead.

Brief Scores

India 111/3 in 9.2 overs (Hooda 47*, Pandya 24; Young 2/18) beat Ireland 108/4 in 12 overs (Tector 64*, Tucker 18; Chahal 1/11) by seven wickets.