The State of Play
Ireland’s first match of the T20 World Cup 2024 could not be more daunting than attempting to surprise the top-ranked team in the world, India, at Long Island’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Coach Heinrich Malan is “excited” about the opener at the specially-built setting, though, pointing out that the nature of the format means “you can take down any team in the world”.
“T20 cricket has shown up, over a fair period of time, that if you play a certain way and you have the right intent and players come to the party on the day, all teams that are going to compete at this competition are equally matched.
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“India are coming fresh off the IPL and I see they’ve rested a couple of guys in their warm-up stuff.
“It doesn’t matter where you play India. We’ve played them at home over the last couple of years and they get people behind them. It will be nice to get some Irish supporters out there and I’m sure we will.”
While Malan recently signed a contract extension, this will be the final assignment for his India counterpart, Rahul Dravid, who announced on Tuesday that he will step down after the tournament.
A 2003 Cricket World Cup finalist with India, Dravid has guided his country to the World Test Championship and 50-over World Cup finals since taking charge in 2021.
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As usual, the 51-year-old has an enviable squad to select from for a team seeking to add to their sole T20 World Cup title in 2008, including captain Rohit Sharma, masterful spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav, IPL 2024 top run-scorer Virat Kohli and influential wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant.
“It’s about our ability to read and understand different conditions in different places, use our experience, execute and make the right decisions with the bat and ball at critical moments,” said Dravid.
“Those will be the critical factors. Of course there will be expectations and it’s great that people are rating our team highly, because that means we’ve been playing good cricket and have a good squad together.
“I’m sure we are one of the strong teams in the mix. I hope we play the kind of cricket that a strong team in the mix should play.”
📆 | Dates for your diary #BackingGreen ☘️🏏 pic.twitter.com/1mD2rsB7bp
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) June 2, 2024
Expected line-ups
India: Sharma (c), Kohli, Yadav, Pant (wk), Dube, Pandya, Jadeja, Bumrah, Yadav, Singh, Siraj
Ireland: Stirling (c), Balbirnie, Tucker (wk), Tector, Campher, Dockrell, Delany, Adair, McCarthy, Young, White
How to watch
Sky have the rights to show the T20 World Cup to UK viewers in 2024 and will broadcast every game live. Coverage gets underway on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm BST.
In India, the games can be streamed on Disney + Hotstar app and website. They are also available across the Star Sports Network.
#T20WorldCup Mode 🔛
Get ready to cheer for #TeamIndia 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ziZ8NRPCLn
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 30, 2024
Prediction
In a group also containing Pakistan, the USA and Canada, it would be a significant confidence boost for Ireland even if Malan’s side were to run India close.
Mark Adair took 3-36 and Andrew Balbirnie struck 56 off 46 balls in their five-wicket win over Scotland last month before Adair claimed 2-21 in their three-run win over the Netherlands in the Hague, although they lost to Sri Lanka by 41 runs in Florida on Friday.
Dravid is wary of the unfamiliar setting but his players looked comfortable enough in beating Bangladesh by 60 runs there on Saturday, when Pant scored 53, Hardik Pandya an unbeaten 40 and Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube took two wickets each. Dravid’s swansong should start in solid style.
