T20 World Cup: Grand opening for Team India on a tough pitch

Pacers have a field day as India make short work of Irish challenge on treacherous surface for batting

NEW YORK: A hint of cloud, nip in the air, and a pitch with a bit of assistance. The Indian bowlers couldn't have asked for anything more as they looked to make their New York debut a memorable one at the Nassau International County ground on Wednesday.

The fans might have preferred a slightly more competitive game, but as long as India win, no one cares. An eight-wicket win gave the favourites opportunity to flex their muscles. It was a toss that India wouldn't have liked to lose and once that fell in place, the four-man pace attack of Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya did all the damage. Of course, on a pitch where there was up-and-down bounce, the Ireland batters didn't have the knowhow to stretch the game deep.

While Arshdeep (2-35) did the early damage, the most heartening aspect of the bowling display came from Hardik. It was absolutely crucial that the allrounder finds his bearings early on. The conditions were just right and Hardik shifted slightly from his normal style and looked to bowl a bit fuller. It paid off dividends as Lorcan Tucker got bowled. Hardik (3-27) did bowl a few slightly short as well and it kept getting difficult for the Irish batters.

In the middle of all this, Bumrah (2-6) went about his business, hitting the right spots and looking virtually unplayable at times. With the variable bounce on offer, one could see that there was a fear-factor around Bumrah's bowling that made him all the more difficult to play.

Virat-Rohit combo stutters

The opening combination of Virat and Rohit, who were doing the job together for the first time since March 20, 2021, was one of the prime attractions of this game. It would have been great for the partisan fans to see the two firing, but they only got a Rohit show.

Rohit survived a few close calls but the skipper buckled down and decided that in a chase of 97, he wouldn't miss out on some vital batting practice. Rishabh Pant, batting at No. 3 showed that all the hard work he had put in was paying off. Rohit and Pant's 54-run partnership sealed the game for India. But there was a small cloud of worry at the end.

Just after Rohit had completed his half-century, a rising ball hit his shoulder, and the skipper quite clearly didn't want to aggravate the pain. At 76-1, Rohit walked off retired hurt. It was just the perfect day for the Men in Blue, but the fans would hope that the skipper is back to full fitness for the Sunday bash against Pakistan.

1/10:India rout Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener

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2/10:CAPTAIN'S KNOCK

<p>India captain Rohit Sharma allayed fears about an arm injury after making 52 before retiring hurt as his side thrashed Ireland by eight wickets in the teams' T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday.<br /></p>AFP

3/10:DOMINANT DISPLAY

<p>India only required 97 to win after a dominant display by their bowling attack, with left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh striking twice in the third over to reduce Ireland to 9-2 after Rohit won the toss.<br /></p>AFP

4/10:SUPER PANDYA

<p><br />All-rounder Hardik Pandya took two wickets in two balls on his way to 3-27 and Jasprit Bumrah, the player of the match, 2-6.<br /></p>IANS

5/10:POOR SHOW

<p>Ireland, all out for just 96, needed to hold every chance to have any hope of a shock upset.<br /></p>AFP

6/10:ROHIT SURVIVES

<p>But Rohit had made just two when, off the last ball of the first over of India's chase, he edged Mark Adair through the hands of Andrew Balbirnie at second slip.<br /></p>AFP

7/10:VIRAT FALLS

<p>Adair dismissed Virat Kohli for just one, when the star batsman sliced to deep third man, but the damage had been done as India launched their bid to win a first major title since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph with a commanding Group A victory.<br /></p>AFP

8/10:CAPTAIN ON DUTY

<p>Rohit punished Ireland with a 37-ball innings, including four fours and three well-struck sixes as he shared a stand of 54 with Rishabh Pant.<br /></p>IANS

9/10:COMEBACK MAN

<p>Rishabh Pant, returning to international cricket after a horror car crash in December 2022, finished on 36 not out and ended the match with a typically flamboyant reverse-scooped six off Barry McCarthy as India won with nearly eight overs left.<br /></p>AFP

10/10:BOOM-BOOM BUMRAH

<p>Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged Player of the Match for figures 2-6.<br /></p>AFP

India rout Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener