The Ireland cricket team, missing as many as 6 of their frontline players, stunned the world when they bulldozed reigning world champions India to seal a momentous series. Ireland won the 2nd T20I by 1 run to whitewash India.
The victory is even more sensational considering the last time India was whitewashed in a T20i series was back in the 2019 Australia tour of India, where the men from down under won against India 2-0. The last series defeat for India was in 2023 against West Indies, where Windies won 3-2
The Irish batting first reached 154/8 with Harry Tector dropping anchor for his 53(47) and cameos by Calitz 37(23), and Dockrell 19(14). Prince Yadav impressed with figures of 4-0-22-3 on debut, while Arshdeep and Dube both scalped 2 wickets each. The bowling in the 2nd T20I was tighter than the first T20i, but once again, it was the batting that disappointed, despite having the same top order as the T20 WC winning combination. Both Samson and Abhishek fell for nought against Jai Moondra, who is only playing his 2nd T20i. Curiously, Moondra still holds an Indian Passport, he migrated to Ireland in 2020 for his master’s.
Kishan could only manage 12 and newly appointed skipper Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy has begun in disastrous fashion, managing 10 off 7 before losing his stumps to Moondra. Tilak Verma dropped anchor for his 55(46) but much more was expected from the southpaw. Dube stuck 20 and Axar could only manage 14 off 18. Harshit Rana did re-ignite hopes with his impressive cameo but fell short of finishing off the match. A last ball six by Prince Yadav was not enough for India to reach the target, losing the match by 1 run, and thereby the series.
Many questions have been raised by fans and critics alike, and given India’s meteoric success in the shortest format, a series loss to Ireland is not digestible. Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy and team selection too have not been spared. India next play England on first July.
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