We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report
India won both games at The Village in Dublin in 2018, posting massive scores of 213 for 5 and 208 for 4. As the numbers suggest, the pitch is a featherbed for batters.
Teams
Probable XI for Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Andy McBrine, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little
Probable XI for India: Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan
Power Players
Ishan Kishan has been so consistent of late that he has only one single-digit score in the last 10 competitive T20 games. With 206 runs at a strike rate of 150, he was the highest run-scorer of the series between India and South Africa.
On his day, Paul Stirling smashes the opposition bowlers to a pulp. On other days, he throws it away and frustrates the cricket fanatics. In his last 10 T20 games, he has scored three consecutive ducks, a hundred, and a fifty. If he survives the first few overs, India will have a tough time containing his aggression.
Ever since this year’s Indian T20 League started, everything has gone Hardik Pandya’s way. He scored 487 runs and took 8 wickets in the tournament and followed it up with 117 runs against South Africa.
Suryakumar Yadav is back! In a mere 14 T20Is, he has managed 351 runs at an average of 39 and strike rate of 166. Before he injured himself in the Indian T20 League, he scored 303 runs at 43.
Smart Picks
Andie Balbirnie has impressive numbers at the venue: he has scored 211 runs at an average of 26 and strike rate of 145.
Yuzvendra Chahal has two three-fors in two T20Is against Ireland. After finishing the Indian T20 League as the highest wicket-taker, he took 6 wickets in 4 matches against South Africa.
George Dockrell and Mark Adair, the top two wicket-takers for Ireland in the format, have 135 wickets between them. While Adair does the damage in the powerplay and at the death, Dockrell operates in the middle overs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will enjoy swinging the new ball in the Irish conditions. He took a spectacular four-wicket haul earlier this month.
Whether Dinesh Karthik or Sanju Samson takes the wicketkeeping duties, is a question only time can answer. Both have been going bonkers of late, especially Karthik who scored his maiden T20I fifty last month.
Match Preview
In 2022, India have won 8 of 10 T20Is and Ireland have come up triumphant in 5 of 8 games. However, India lead the head-to-head contest by 3-0 and have a far superior side in terms of both form and experience.
Time: June 26, 9:00 PM IST