India kicked off their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a resounding victory, thrashing Ireland by eight wickets at Nassau County Stadium in New York. Skipper Rohit Sharma's half-century, coupled with a fine finish from Rishabh Pant and fiery spells by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, were the standout moments of the match.
In the chase of 97 runs, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opened for India, but Kohli's dismissal early on put pressure on the team. However, Rohit Sharma, along with Rishabh Pant, steadied the innings with some well-timed strokes. At the end of the powerplay, India was 39/1, with Rohit and Pant at the crease.
Rohit Sharma's aggressive batting, including two sixes off Joshua Little, propelled India past the 50-run mark. He notched up his 10th T20 World Cup half-century in just 36 balls before retiring hurt due to an arm injury. Pant continued the chase, supported briefly by Suryakumar Yadav, before sealing the win with a boundary and a winning six.
Earlier, India's bowling attack dominated proceedings, restricting Ireland to a meager total of 96. Arshdeep Singh's fiery spell dismantled Ireland's top order, while Hardik Pandya's three wickets and contributions from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel ensured a comprehensive performance.
Gareth Delany was the lone standout for Ireland, scoring 26 runs, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled against India's relentless bowling attack. The victory marks a strong start for India in their quest for T20 World Cup glory.
