India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 journey kicks off with a match against Ireland at the Nassau County Stadium on Wednesday. This tournament holds special significance as it marks the final assignment for head coach Rahul Dravid. However, India have won the toss and have opted to field.

India To End ICC Trophy Drought

Rohit Sharma’s squad demonstrated their prowess in a warm-up match last week, crushing Bangladesh by 60 runs. Notably absent from the game was Virat Kohli, raising anticipation about the lineup for the opening match.

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The team aims to end a decade-long drought of ICC trophies, with both Rohit and Kohli eager to alter the narrative of the “underachieving” Indian side. Last year’s ODI World Cup left Rohit visibly emotional and Kohli helplessly watching as the trophy slipped away.

Ireland’s Rising Competence

Ireland, no longer the underdog in T20 cricket, poses a significant threat. Ireland enters the tournament with impressive momentum, having won four of their last five T20Is, including a notable victory over Pakistan in Malahide. Their ability to close out tight games underscores their potential threat. Despite a 41-run loss to Sri Lanka in a warm-up match, the result is not a true reflection of their capabilities as it served more as an opportunity for players to find their rhythm.

T20 World Cup 2024, India vs Ireland: Who said what at the toss?

Rohit Sharma: We’re going to bowl. Preparations have been alright. Have been managing ourselves in these new conditions. Has been challenging but we are all professionals. We played on a similar pitch and do know what to expect a little bit. I know it’s going to be slightly different from what we’re used to. But that’s what the sport is. Not sure about the conditions too much, so thought having a target in front of us would be good. Guys missing out are Kuldeep, Sanju, Jaiswal and one more.

Paul Stirling: Coming with pretty good prep, we were in Netherlands recently (for the tri-series). We’ve got plenty of matchwinners in our side, want them to show up on the day. We’re looking to assess conditions early. Got plenty of match winners, today’s a perfect occasion for them to show up. We’ve got three seamers and two spinners, couple of allrounders in there.

Playing XIs:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

Ireland (Playing XI): Paul Stirling(c), Andrew Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker(w), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little, Benjamin White