IRE vs IND: Five takeaways for Team India from T20I series

India completed a 2-0 whitewash in the just-concluded T20I series against Ireland that was played in Dublin. While the Men in Blue registered a convincing win in the opening game, they were given a run for their money in the second and at one point it seemed as if the Irish would end up pulling off a huge upset.

Despite scoring well in excess of 200, India had to fight hard for their win before pace sensation Umran Malik came to their rescue in the final over. While India bagged yet another T20I series, there have been many other takeaways from this Ireland tour with a few players coming to the core and making a tremendous impact.

Let’s look at five takeaways for Team India from the T20I series

1. Ravi Bishnoi’s impressive performance

Ravi Bishnoi has been a part of the Indian T20I setup since the start of this year but faces cut-throat competition when it comes to sustainability with a few frontline spinners in the hunt for the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup selections including Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

The youngster did not get a chance in the home series against South Africa and also warmed the bench in the first T20I against Ireland with Axar and Chahal taking care of the spin department. However, when the leggie did get a chance in the second game he was a bit expensive, but also picked up the key wicket of opener Paul Stirling who was on a rampage.

Bishnoi finished with figures of 1/41 from his four overs at an economy of 10.3. He’s only expected to get better with experience and the selectors have all the reasons to keep the youngster in the radar.

2. Hardik Pandya’s bowling in Powerplay

Stand-in-captain for this series Hardik Pandya had taken a break from international cricket after T20 World Cup 2021 last November to rediscover his mojo with the ball and the efforts have finally seemed to have paid off.

The 28-year-old, who registered match-winning figures of 3/17 in IPL 2022 final against the Rajasthan Royals, decided to showcase his bowling skills at the international arena oozing with confidence, but the results were not impressive in this series.

Pandya might have become the first India captain to pick up a wicket in T20Is, but he was really expensive as far as bowling in Powerplays is concerned. While he gave away 26 runs from two overs in the first game at an economy of 13, he was clobbered for 18 runs in the second match from the two overs that he bowled at an economy of nine and also went wicketless as a result of which the Baroda cricketer had to force himself out of the attack.

3. Deepak Hooda’s versatility as a top-order batter

Deepak Hooda is known for being a handy middle-order batter with the ability to score some precious runs in the middle and death overs. However, the Ireland series showed that he could be an impressive top-order batter as well.

While the batting all-rounder finished the chase in the first game with an unbeaten 29-ball 47, he scored his maiden T20I ton in the second with a quickfire 57-ball 104. These knocks came batting as an opener and at number three, respectively.

Hooda finished with 151 runs in two matches and has knocked at the door of the Indian selectors as they start to pick the squads for the multi-nation tournaments later this year.

4. Sanju Samson makes the most of his chances

Even though he made his international debut way back in 2015, Sanju Samson has been in and out of the Indian side due to inconsistent performances and while he was picked for the Ireland series, he could not get a chance in the first game.

Nonetheless, an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad meant that Samson got his much-needed breakthrough in the series-decider and he made the most of his opportunity by scoring a brilliant half-century.

The Kerala cricketer scored 77 runs off 42 balls at an outstanding strike rate of 183.3 and was also involved in a 176-run stand for the second wicket along with Deepak Hooda.

5. Suryakumar Yadav’s worrisome form

Suryakumar Yadav has been one of the regular members in the Indian squad in the last 12 months. However, injuries have sidelined him for a while this year. A fully fit Yadav was included in the playing XI of both the games against Ireland.

The middle-order sensation was expected to take the Irish bowlers to the cleaners in their own backyard, but that was not to be as he literally struggled against them and got out cheaply in both games.

While he was dismissed for a golden duck in the series opener, the Mumbai cricketer did get off to a solid start in the second match, but was dismissed for 15 runs from five balls and India would want him to regain his lost touch at the earliest.