T20 World Cup 2024, India vs Ireland: Top 3 player battles to watch out - Cricket Winner

The Indian cricket team will begin their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday. Historically, matches in New York have been one-sided, but this fixture promises to be intriguing. Ireland’s recent performance has been commendable, posing a significant challenge to the former champions.

India’s Quest for a Second T20 World Cup

Led by Rohit Sharma, India is on a mission to secure its second ICC T20 World Cup title, its first since the inaugural 2007 season. In the 2022 edition, India faced a heartbreaking semi-final defeat against England by 10 wickets at Adelaide Oval in Australia. Now, in 2024, India aims to kick-start its tournament with a strong performance at Nassau Stadium in the United States.

Ireland: A Team Known for Upsets

Ireland has a reputation for causing major upsets in ICC World Cups. However, they have never managed to defeat India across all formats. India has consistently emerged victorious against Ireland, reinforcing their dominance in head-to-head encounters.

India vs. Ireland: T20 Head-to-Head

India and Ireland have clashed in 7 T20 International matches, with India triumphing in all encounters. Their sole T20 World Cup meeting was in 2009 when India secured an 8-wicket victory at Trent Bridge.

Key Player Battles to Watch

As we gear up for the match, here are three crucial player battles that could shape the outcome:

1. Paul Stirling vs. Jasprit Bumrah

One of the most anticipated battles will be between Ireland’s skipper, Paul Stirling, and India’s pace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah, fresh off an impressive IPL season as the leading wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians, will face Stirling, known for his aggressive batting style. However, Stirling struggles against Bumrah, having been dismissed by him on the only ball he has faced in a T20I match.

2. Rohit Sharma vs. Josh Little

Indian captain Rohit Sharma, third on the all-time T20I run-scorers list with 3974 runs, will face off against Ireland’s left-arm pacer Josh Little. Sharma has succeeded against Ireland, scoring 149 runs in just three matches. Little, Ireland’s third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is, has taken three wickets in four games against India and will aim to trouble the Indian skipper.

3. Suryakumar Yadav vs. Mark Adair

Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s No. 1 T20I batter with a strike rate above 140, is crucial for India’s batting line-up. His ability to add essential runs makes his wicket highly valuable. Mark Adair, an experienced Irish bowler, has faced Yadav before, making this matchup particularly exciting to watch.