India meet Ireland in tricky T20 WC opener

'Experts call them ‘old wine in new bottle’ but a clutch of superstar Indian cricketers would leave no stone unturned to break away from their archaic template when they take on a plucky Ireland in their opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup in New York, USA today.

The team knows that it is a touch undercooked with a lot of confusion still persisting about what could be the best combination on a drop-in virgin strip. 

As is clear from the games so far, scoring won’t be a walk in the park like it was during the Indian Premier League the last couple of months.

But the bigger concern is the baggage of being favourites who don’t really make it count in the end. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have individually laid their hands on global silverware but an assortment of some other ‘once in generation’ cricketers, including Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have not and they would be eager to finally lift one.

On a slow track and a sub-standard outfield at the Nassau County ground, how India play Irish left-arm spinner George Dockrell will be interesting.

Where India hold the advantage is their spinners who are way better compared to what the Irish team have though the pace attack, aside from Bumrah, looks a bit weak in absence of the redoubtable Mohammed Shami.

Often having too many options isn’t the best option just like Indians have at the top. To fit in Skipper Rohit and team’s most elite batter in Kohli, they have to probably sacrifice Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Rishabh Pant’s batting at No.3 in the practice game was like a breath of fresh air and Hardik Pandya’s bowling form will indicate how India fares in this competition.

Ireland very recently beat Pakistan in their own den in the run-up to the World Cup. The troika of Balbirnie, Stirling and Tector can more than chance their arms. (Agencies)