Highlights, India vs Ireland, 1st T20I at Dublin, Full cricket score: Virat Kohli and Co win by runs 76 runs

Kohli: Opening combination was excellent. Great effort by Rohit and Shikhar to put us in the good position. And good strikes from MS, Raina and Pandya in the end. With the ball, we were clinical as well. I am very happy as a captain. We have already announced that apart from opening batsmen, we are going to experiment in middle order a lot in T20 games. We asked the guys to have that flexibility and they are responding well. We will play the guys who didn’t play in this game. We’re going to give everyone a go in this series. The management and me as captain decided it. There’re no mysteries and looking everyone to give game time.

Wilson: World Class side aren’t they? The top-two played beautifully. Credit to them. I actually thought it was going to be a good wicket, didn’t really think it would spin like that in the second innings. No one thought. Possibly, I could have bowled the spinners more. In hindsight, that’s always the thing, isn’t it? Simi has had a good tour of Netherlands and played spin very well. (Positives)The way Shannon played was particularly pleasing. Chase and Rankin bowled well at the death. Over the next two days we are going to have a chat on how to tackle the spinners.

Kuldeep Yadav: Yes, first trip to UK and started well. I think wicket was good to bat on. It was turning a little. We bowled with many variations and tried to stick to line and length. Whenever we (Yuzvendra and I) bowl, we get wickets. We just stick to right line and length. Yes, England are playing good cricket and it will be challenging for me to perform. But if you are using the right variations, there should be no problem.

Kuldeep Yadav is named the Man of the Match.

Yuzvendra Chahal: Today was good. I think I got hit two extra sixes. This is my first UK tour. I enjoyed here. Wicket was grippy. Mahi bhai, Virat bhai told me to bowl far from the batsmen. This is good learning for us before going to England. Kuldeep and I always talk in the middle of what to do.

This is India’s fourth largest victory and Ireland’s second largest defeat in T20Is in-terms of runs.

Seven wickets shared by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav today. You can say their English summer has gotten off to a great start. Lots of positives for India today, in all three aspects of the game. Perhaps the only worry was fielding, never mind that Kohli got off with a two ball duck. On Friday, they will try to make up for the shortcoming no doubt. Ireland tried, but they are simply not good enough to compete with a powerhouse like the Men in Blue at the moment.

4/21 by Kuldeep is the best figures by a Chinaman bowler in T20Is surpassing 4/23 by Lakshan Sandakan against South Africa  at the Wanderers in 2017.

After 20 overs,Ireland 132/9 ( Boyd Rankin 5 , Peter Chase 2)

That’s it! India have won by 76 runs. A comprehensive win. They outplayed Ireland in every department. After being send into bat, the openers set the platform with massive 160-run stand. Rohit missed out on his ton by 3 runs. India managed to post a formidable 208/5. In reply, Ireland got off to a jittery start. They lost Stirling early, But then James Shannon, riding on luck kept the momentum going. He scored 60 but the Indian spinners wove a web around the batsmen in the middle overs and that’s where Ireland’s game was lost. Kuldeep was brilliant with four wickets. Chahal picked up three. Ireland never got the momentum going and fell well short.

After 19 overs**,Ireland** 129/9 ( Boyd Rankin 3 , Peter Chase 1)

Bhuvneshwar conceded just three runs. He started off with three dots and then concede three singles off the last three balls.

After 18 overs,Ireland 126/9 ( Boyd Rankin 1 , Peter Chase 0)

Another brilliant over. A couple of yorkers, a couple of plays and misses. Bumrah hit brilliant lengths and varied his pace well. It’s just a matter of time now. A wicket maiden from Bumrah.

OUT! Stumps are shattered. Bumrah sends back Chase.

Chase had a good time with the ball but he departs for a golden duck. Charges down the track, Bumrah bowls a yorker on off. Chase has moved too far away, looks to hit it through the off side but is beaten by the pace and finds the stumps shattered.

After 17 overs**,Ireland** 126/8 ( George Dockrell 9 , Boyd Rankin 1)

Ireland going nowhere. They aren’t connecting off the middle either. A lot of inside edges in that over. Pandya gives away just three runs.

After 16 overs**,Ireland** 123/8 ( George Dockrell 7 , Boyd Rankin 0)

Kuldeep was hit for a six in that over but that doesn’t matter. He scalped two wickets, registered his best figures in T20Is and foxed both Thompson (with flight) and Poynter (with wrong’un). A brilliant spell ends. 4-1-21-4.

OUT! Kuldeep with his best figures in T20Is. What a beauty it is. The Wrong’ún on off, spins away sharply, squares up Poynter who has no option but to look at his shattered stumps.

SIX! Dockrell smashes the first ball he faces, over long off, off Kuldeep.

OUT! Kuldeep gets his third wicket. He has been excellent today. Thomson looks to go big, but is done in by the flight and hands it straight into the hands of the long on fielder.

After 15 overs,Ireland 114/6 ( Stuart Thompson 12 , Stuart Poynter (W) 5)

10 runs off the over. But Ireland are going nowhere with 95 needed off 30 balls. Thompson hit a thumping boundary off the penultimate ball to bring some cheer to the fans.

FOUR! Finally, something to cheer for the fans. Thompson gives himself room and thumps it through extra cover.

Hardik Pandya back on.

After 14 overs,Ireland 104/6 ( Stuart Thompson 6 , Stuart Poynter (W) 1)

They are not able to get Kuldeep away. He has been brilliant so far. Poynter looked to hit one over the off side but got an outside edge which fell safely. 8 runs off the over. Kuldeep’s figures read – 3-1-12-2.

Kuldeep continues.

Two off two balls for Chahal in that last over…. almost got a hat trick there after Kevin O’Brien holed out and Gary Wilson was stumped… on that note, it will be an interesting statistic to see how many stumpings off Chahal Dhoni has collected since last February and its comparative ratio with other spinners’ balls-to-stumpings…

After 13 overs,Ireland 96/6 ( Poynter 0 , Thompson 0)

Chahal doesn’t get the hat-trick.

He kept on flighting it in that over despite being hit for a six off the first ball by O’Brien and was rewarded with 2 wickets. 8 runs and two wickets off the over.

OUT! 2 in 2 for Chahal. This is poor from Ireland. Wilson departs for a golden duck.

Quite similar to the Balbirnie wicket. It’s fligted outside off, Wilson gets down the track and looks to swing across the line but is done in by the flight and the leg spin. He misses and Dhoni does the rest.

OUT! O’Brien departs. Another crucial breakthrough for India.

Chahal gets his second wicket. It’s tossed up outside off, O’Brien looks to go downtown, doesn’t connect it off the middle and helps it into the hands of the long off fielder. Three wickets in four overs for India.

SIX! New balls, please. Kevin O’Brien gets into the act and hammers Chahal over long on. Cracking shot. The umpires have called for a new ball.

Shannon gets his half-century …. after three lives mind you… but is gone thereafter to Kuldeep Yadav… always looked out that one. No need of a review, even if one was available. Never mind what the TV graphics say… got a lot of us confused here in the Malahide press box. Strangely enough, Kevin O’Brien comes out to bat at no.6…. with 124 needed off 51 balls.

After 12 overs,Ireland 88/4 ( Gary Wilson (C) 5 , Kevin O’Brien 2)

Another brilliant over from Kuldeep. The Irish batsmen are befuddled by his variations. He got the big wicket of Shannon in that over. O’Brien mistimed his heave off the first ball but it fell short. 5 runs off the over.

OUT! Kuldeep gets the big wicket. Shannon departs.

Nicely done by Kuldeep, he sees Shannon walk across and darts in a quicker one. Shannon looks to paddle but is beaten by the pace and gets trapped right in front. Shannon was lucky, he scored a half century but Ireland needed more from him.

After 11 overs,Ireland 83/3 ( James Shannon 59 , Gary Wilson (C) 3)

Chahal didn’t get lengths right. Either he was short or too full. He got hit for a six off the first ball and then a couple of short balls were hit straight to fielders for singles. 11 runs off the over. Ireland need something special from Shannon now.

Gary Wilson is one of the three Ireland players to have scored 1000-plus runs in T20Is. The onus will be on him to score few runs here.

SIX! Shannon is going strong despite wicket at the other end. He sits down and slog sweeps Chahal over deep mid-wicket.

After 10 overs**,Ireland** 72/3 ( James Shannon 51 , Gary Wilson (C) 0)

A maiden wicket from Kuldeep. What a start from him. He varied his pace well and confused the batsmen with his spin changes. There were two close LBW appeals which were turned down in that over. Good stuff from Kuldeep.

Almost as if on cue… Kuldeep Yadav strikes in his first over. Simi Singh played with Chahal in junior cricket before he moved to Ireland. Could contend with him thus, not with the chinaman. Ireland trying to stay afloat but this chase was always a long shot.

OUT! Kuldeep strikes in his first over. 

OUT! Kuldeep strikes in his first over. 

The wrongún does the trick. It’s flighted on off, draws Simi Singh forward who looks to flick but gets a leading edge to short extra cover fielder.

Kuldeep Yadav into the attack now.

After 9 overs**,Ireland** 72/2 ( James Shannon 51 , Simi Singh 7)

Ireland get another 10-run over. Shannon hit a six and then a couple to get to his fifty. The hosts are slowly getting the momentum. Shannon is the key as he is well set and would look to up the ante.

FIFTY for Shannon! He’s made most of his luck so far. 50 off 29 balls with five fours and three sixes and kept the momentum going.

After 8 overs,Ireland 62/2 ( James Shannon 42 , Simi Singh 6)

A decent over for Ireland. Two fours. Pandya still struggling with his accuracy. Two balls off which fours were hit, one of them was legsidish and another very wide. 10 runs off the over. Shannon is looking good out in the middle after early jitters.

FOURS! 2 in that over. Shannon trickled one to fine leg and then Simi Singh smashes one over point, off Hardik Pandya.

Yuzvendra Chahal is the highest wicket-taker among Indian players since 2017 (58) in T20 cricket and he has taken a wicket straightaway.

Fifty up for Ireland and it has been a laboured one considering the gap of the gulf between the two sides. Irish batsmen have shown some spark but leg spin into play now. Chahal struck in his first over. Pandya continues, but resisting leg spin will be tough for Ireland, especially when the duo bowl in tandem.

After 7 overs**,Ireland** 52/2 ( James Shannon 37 , Simi Singh 1)

Chahal would have had two wickets in that over, had there been DRS. He at first foxed Balbirnie and then would have had Shannon with a googly. Shannon missed his slog sweep and was trapped in front but the umpire said no. Chahal looked for DRS but Dhoni had to remind him that it wasn’t present in this series. It was right in front , plumb. In between Shannon slog sweeped one over deep mid-wicket for a six.

SIX! He connected that cleanly. Shannon gets down and slog sweeps it cleanly over deep mid-wicket.

Simi Singh is the new batsman.

OUT! Chahal strikes strikes straightaway. Balbirnie back in the hut. 

Chahal is clever. Very clever. Sees Balbirnie dancing down the track, Gives it a bit of flight, pushes outside off. Balbirnie is done in by the flight, he swings it early but the ball spins away and he misses. Dhoni is not going to miss the easiest of chances. He clips the bails off calmly.

After 6 overs,Ireland 43/1 ( James Shannon 30 , Andy Balbirnie 10)

Ireland end the over well. Balbirnie was hit on the face off the first ball as he tried to lap sweep Bhuvneshwar the neck guard came off and he seemed in some pain. But he recovered quickly. After three singles off the first four balls, Shannon gave himself room and smashes one through the off side to make it 7 runs off the over with a four.

After 5 overs**, Ireland** 36/1 ( James Shannon 25 , Andy Balbirnie 8)

Ireland finally getting some momentum in that over. After two singles off the first three balls. Balbirnie hits a four and a single later, Shannon hits a glorious six over deep mid-wicket. Hardik erred in length at the fag end of the over and got punished.

SIX! Brilliant shot to end the over. It’s slower on middle and leg, Shannon flicks it nonchalantly over deep mid-wicket.

FOUR! Short from Pandya, Balbirnie pulls it through square leg.

Hardik Pandya into the attack now

After 4 overs**,Ireland** 24/1 ( James Shannon 19 , Andy Balbirnie 2)

Shannon’s luck continues. A four off the inside edge off the first ball. A drop, a ball later. Bumrah varied his pace and lengths really well in that over. Balbirnie had a couple of plays and misses before getting a single off the last ball. 6 runs off the over.

Indian pacers making it a tad impossible for Ireland to play… almost a level above the batsmen’s pay grade without meaning to be disrespectful.. India’s fielding well… that’s another matter. Chahal failed to judge one properly in the deep and now Rohit has dropped a sitter. Shannon the beneficiary on both occasions.

Dropped! Rohit Sharma drops Shannon. Bumrah foxes Shannon with a slower one, his wild swing catches a top edge. Rohit at square leg settles under it but misjudges and ends up getting just finger tips to it and the ball hits the ground.

FOUR! Not off the middle! Shannon looks to pull a good length delivery from Bumrah, gets a thick inside edge and it runs away.

After 3 overs,Ireland 18/1 ( James Shannon 14 , Andy Balbirnie 1)

Another very good over from Bhuvneshwar. He nearly had Shannon but his mistimed heave fell wide of the fine leg fielder. Just four runs off the over. The Ireland batsmen are getting desperate. 4 runs off the over.

Bhuvneshwar continues….

After 2 overs**,Ireland** 14/1 ( James Shannon 11 , Andy Balbirnie 0)

An eventful over. Bumrah got the wicket of Stirling and then nearly had Shannon only for the inside edge to save the batsman on the LBW call. Shannon then went on the attack to pull one over mid-wicket and then got a thick outside edge for a streaky four.

FOUR! Shannon looks to swing across the line but gets an outside edge over the slip to third man for a streaky four.

Jasprit Bumrah is the only other Indian bowler than Yuzvendra Chahal to take more than 50 wickets in T20 cricket since 2017.

FOUR! Shannon pulls it over mid-wicket with authority, off Bumrah.

The highest target successfully chased by Ireland in T20Is is 164 which they chased against Zimbabwe at Sylhet in 2014.

OUT! Bumrah strikes. Stirling back in the hut. 

Poor shot. A tad short outside off, Stirling stays in his crease and looks to pull but doesn’t time his shot well, gets a top edge and the mid on fielder makes no mistake. A good start for India.

After 1 overs**,Ireland** 4/0 ( Paul Stirling 1 , James Shannon 2)

Bhuvneshwar could have had a wicket in the very first over. Shannon’s leading edge was dropped by Pandya at mid off. It was a tough chance though. Bhuvneshwar didn’t get much assistance from the pitch or air but was disciplined and conceded just 4 in that over.

Dropped! A tough one. Shannon gets a lifeline. He looks to flick but gets a leading edge, Hardik Pandys back peddles, turns and looks to catch it with hands outstretched but gets just the finger tips to it.

Back for the chase. Stirling and Shannon are the openers. Bhuvneshwar will start off proceedings.

After 20 overs, India 208/5 ( Hardik Pandya 6 , Manish Pandey 0)

India post 208/5. A good last over for Ireland. They were hammered all around the park but Chase scalped three wickets in the final over and conceded just 7. He ends with figures of 4-0-35-0. India have done well to post 208. The openers set the tone and carried on and on. Raina and Dhoni chipped in with crucial contributions.

SIX! Hardik finishes it in style, Brings out that helicopter shot over the bowler’s head for a six.

OUT! 3 wickets in the over. Kohli departs. 

It’s in the slot on middle and leg. Kohli looks to whip it over deep mid-wicket but doesn’t connect it well and helps it straight into the hands of the fielder.

And there’s your headline… Virat Kohli starts his UK tour with a two-ball duck!

Rohit Sharma’s 97 runs today is the most by any player against Ireland in T20Is. The previous highest was 90 by Najeeb Taraki. He scored at Greater Noida in 2017.

Slog from Rohit and missed… he’s bowled. Chase on a hat-trick… Virat Kohli finally in the middle… and as I type this… not the best hat-trick ball…

Virat Kohli walks out to the middle to join Hardik Pandya.

Most 200-plus totals by teams in T20Is:

11 – South Africa 
10 – Australia 
10 – INDIA* 
7 – Sri Lanka

OUT! 2 in 2 for Chase. Rohit misses out on his century.

Good length delivery on middle and off, Rohit looks to swing across the line, but misses and finds the stumps shattered. 97 off 61 balls, a very good innings ends.

OUT! Dhoni dances down the track, Chase drops it short, Dhoni looks to pull but doesn’t connect and helps it straight into the hands of deep mid-wicket fielder.

After 19 overs**,India** 201/2 ( Rohit Sharma 96 , MS Dhoni (W) 11)

Dhoni hasn’t taken long to get into the groove. A four through square leg and a huge six means he’s raced to 11 off four balls. Rankin tried to vary his lengths but the lack of pace made sure the Indian batsmen had enough time. 14 runs off the over.

SIX! Bludgeoned. 200 up for India. In the slot outside off, Dhoni smacks it over long off. Powerful strike.

Raina holes out… MS Dhoni walks in to bat. A bit disappointing from the crowd’s perspective that they won’t get to see Virat Kohli bat here. Interestingly, Dhoni didn’t bat in Ireland the last time India came here in 2007. Actually he didn’t even play despite being vice-captain. DK was picked as keeper then. Anyway, can Rohit get to his hundred?

FOUR! Dhoni off the mark in style. Short and Dhoni pulls it behind square leg off Rankin.

After 18 overs**,India** 187/2 ( Rohit Sharma 94 , MS Dhoni (W) 0)

They did manage to get a wicket in that over but the Ireland bowlers clearly look rattled. Too many wides, too many full and overpitched balls. The confidence has taken a massive hit. Chase bowls three wides in that over. A six, four more singles make it 13 runs off the over. Add to it Raina’s wicket.

Still, no Kohli as MS Dhoni walks out to bat.

OUT! Rania departs.

Something to cheer for the Irish fans. Raina skips down the track, Chase cleverly bowls it short, Raina is hurried up and he plays a half-hearted pull, gets a top edge to fine leg.

SIX! Rohit into the 90s.

Chase misses his length. Bowls it full and Rohit clobbers it over the sightscreen.

Chase back into the attack now.

After 17 overs**,India** 174/1 ( Rohit Sharma 85 , Suresh Raina 9)

Another good over for India. Raina has got into the act with 9 runs off four balls and Rohit is approaching his ton. He played an outrageous shot in that over, a lap sweep off a medium pacer. Two singles and three fours make it 14 runs off the over. This could get embarrassing for Ireland if they don’t keep it tight in the last three overs.

Highest stands for India in T20Is:

165 – KL Rahul/Rohit Sharma v SL, Indore, 2017
160 – SHIKHAR DHAWAN/ROHIT SHARMA v Ire, Dublin, 2018*
158 – Shikhar Dhawan/Rohit Sharma v NZ, Delhi, 2017

FOUR! Third in the over. Outrageous shot. Charges down and just sweeps a medium pacer through square leg.

FOUR! That trademark extra cover drive. Raina backs away and drives it through extra cover. Poor fielding on the fence.

FOUR! Raina slashes it over backward point to get off the mark with a boundary off Thompson.

After 16 overs,India 160/1 ( Rohit Sharma 80 , Suresh Raina 0)

It was all happening in that over. A couple of fours, one edgy and one dropped catch. And then, finally a wicket. Thompson managed to take a catch after two drops. 12 runs and a wicket off it.

Another drop off Rohit… although that was a great attempt by Thompson in the deep… Dhawan gone this time though. Thompson catches his third attempt of the day… Suresh Raina at no.3. India continuing their plans from South Africa. Continuity in one format atleast?!

Rohit Sharma becomes the 13th player to score 10,000 runs for India in international cricket. The other players are Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Virat Kohli, Viredner Sehwag, MS Dhoni, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sunil Gavaskar, Yuvraj Singh, VVS Laxman, Dilip Vengsarkar and Gautam Gambhir.

Well, it’s not Virat Kohli but Suresh Raina who has walked out to bat.

OUT! Finally, finally, Ireland get a wicket and finally, they manage to hold on to a catch.

Thompson is relieved after finally taking a catch, having droped two. He pumps his fist in the air. Dhawan looks to loft a full ball but doesn’t connect it well, Thompson from long off charges in and pouches a good catch. A very good innings ends.

FOUR! Edgy, Rohit backs away and looks to slash but gets an outside edge over short third man.

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan’s pair becomes the first pair to add two 150-plus stands in T20Is.

DROPPED! Rohit Sharma lucky here. He goes for a slog sweep but gets a top edge. Thompson at deep mid-wicket runs to his right and dives but ends up dropping it.

FOUR! Low full toss from O’Brien, Dhawan hammers it straight down the ground.

After 15 overs**,India** 148/0 ( Rohit Sharma 73 , Shikhar Dhawan 69)

Ireland have been pretty ordinary on the field. Poor bowling and fielding so far. Dhawan hits a six off the first ball and then Rohit is dropped at long off. A very simple chance goes a begging. Rohit makes them pay with a six off the penultimate ball to make it 15 runs off the over.

Dhawan half-century and acceleration… Rohit Sharma dropped at long off, dolly catch put down… Germany out of the World Cup. That’s last 15-20 minutes for you.

SIX! Rohit adds insult to injury. Heaves one over deep mid-wicket off Dockrell after being dropped a delivery ago.

Dropped! Oh dear! Nothing going right for Ireland. Rohit looks to punch it over long off but doesn’t connect it well, the fielder drops a sitter.

SIX! Dhawan charges down the track and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for a huge six off Dockrell.

After 14 overs**,India** 133/0 ( Rohit Sharma 66 , Shikhar Dhawan 61)

Stirling offered too much width off the last two balls and was hit for consecutive fours. The first four balls were disciplined and he gave away just three singles but then Rohit got into the act to hit a couple of fours to make it 11 runs off the over.

FOUR! 2 in 2! Another delivery wide outside off, Rohit backs away and lofts it over cover.

FOUR! Width offered by Stirling, Rohit slices it over backward point. Very deliberate and well placed.

After 13 overs,India 122/0 ( Rohit Sharma 57 , Shikhar Dhawan 59)

The dibbly dobbly medium pacers are not proving effective for Ireland. After three singles off the first three balls, Rohit hammers one over deep mid-wicket for a six. O’Brien then bowls a wide too. He didn’t get his lines in that over. 11 runs off it.

Bit of a mix up in the previous over and a shout for run out in this one… maybe Rohit-Dhawan are getting tired out there. It is a hot day by Irish standards… oh, the run-out referral didn’t work. Not out is the decision, Ireland cannot catch a break. Fifty for Rohit off 39 balls then…

Both Indian openers scoring 50-plus runs in a T20I match:

v England, Durban, 2007
v New Zealand, Delhi, 2017
v Sri Lanka, Indore, 2017
v Ireland, Dublin, 2018*

FIFTY for Rohit! He brings it up off 39 balls. 

Pushes it to extra cover and sets off for a quick single. There is a direct hit and Rohit somehow plonks his bat in after the bowler comes in his way.

After 12 overs,India 111/0 ( Rohit Sharma 49 , Shikhar Dhawan 57)

Finally, an over without a boundary. He pushed them a pit quicker and with the ball stopping a bit, the Indian batsmen couldn’t force things. Dhawan tried a reverse sweep but Stirling bowled it really wide outside off and Dhawan missed it. Just 5 singles off the over.

Paul Stirling into the attack now.

After 11 overs,India 106/0 ( Rohit Sharma 46 , Shikhar Dhawan 55)

Dhawan gets his 50, the 100-run opening stand is also up. Ominous signs for Ireland. Dhawan smashes the first ball for six off Dockrell to bring up his 50. And then pulls a short delivery to fine leg off the fourth ball. Two more singles make it 12 runs off the over. Ireland need something out of the box now. They need someone to step up and bowl a special spell.

Opening century stands for India in T20Is:

Gautam Gambhir / Virender Sehwag v England, 2007
Mandeep Singh / KL Rahul v Zimbabwe, 2016
Shikhar Dhawan / Rohit Sharma v New Zealand, 2017
KL Rahul / Rohit Sharma v Sri Lanka, 2017
Shikhar Dhawan / Rohit Sharma v Ireland, 2018*

SIX! FIFTY for Dhawan! He brings it up off just 27 balls. Sits down and heaves it over deep mid-wicket. He’s carried the form from the Afghanistan Test. Brilliant batting.

After 10 overs**,India** 94/0 ( Rohit Sharma 45 , Shikhar Dhawan 44)

Rohit and Dhawan are getting at least one boundary every over. There is nothing on offer for the bowlers. Rankin was hitting right lengths but then Rohit manufactured a brilliant shot to hammer it over wide long off. 10 runs off the over.

1000-plus partnership for Rohit-Dhawan in T20 cricket for India. Strangely they were 4th in that list… 3rd you might ask? William Porterfield and Paul Stirling.. for Ireland. Stunning statistic that. 

Albeit… it will be tough for the Irish openers to match Rohit-Dhawan’s intensity here. They are steaming along. India 94/0 in 10 overs. 200 easily still on.

SIX! Fifth six of the Indian innings. This is huge. Rohit gives himself room and smashes it over wide long off.

Rankin back into the attack

After 9 overs,India 84/0 ( Rohit Sharma 37 , Shikhar Dhawan 42)

It was turning out to be good over until the last ball. Dockrell had given away just three runs off the first five balls. But he errs slightly off the last ball, drops it a tad short, Dhawan is quick to latch on to it and cut it through backward point to make it 7 runs off the over.

FOUR! A touch short outside off from Dockrell, Dhawan cuts it through point.

After 8 overs,India 77/0 ( Rohit Sharma 35 , Shikhar Dhawan 37)

Ireland desperately need a wicket now. Rohit and Dhawan are well settled and looking ominous. After three singles off the first three balls, Rohit clobbered Singh over deep mid-wicket for a six. Dhawan, however, was fortuitous as he got a top edge off the slog sweep but it flew over the keeper and landed safely for a couple. 12 runs off the over.

SIX! Rohit dances down the track and heaves it over deep mid-wicket – the longest part of the ground.

Simi Singh into the attack now. He is an off-spinner

After 7 overs**, India** 65/0 ( Rohit Sharma 27 , Shikhar Dhawan 33)

The track looks a bit slower. The introduction of a spinner might help Ireland’s cause. He varied his lengths well in the over and gave away just six runs off the over. All singles.

A couple of mishits from Dhawan but nothing to be overtly worried about… And then gets a big six down the ground… India motoring along very fine now… RR is 10/over… we could be looking at 200 easily here if the Indian middle order doesn’t let off. Ireland don’t seem to have enough to trouble the Indian batsmen.

George Dockrell into the attack.

After 6 overs,India 59/0 ( Rohit Sharma 24 , Shikhar Dhawan 30)

It was turning out to be a good over until the last ball where Dhawan hammered a six to make it 9 off the over. It was still a decent over from Chase. He hit Dhawan’s visor with a bouncer, a clever change of length, and then induced a leading edge which flew over a diving backward point fielder. A good powerplay for India – 59/0

Opening pairs with 1000-plus runs in T20Is:

David Warner / Shane Watson 
ROHIT SHARMA / SHIKHAR DHAWAN*

SIX! Dhawan dances down the track and plunders it straight down the ground off Chase.

Peter Chase back on….

After 5 overs**,India** 50/0 ( Rohit Sharma 23 , Shikhar Dhawan 22)

India are off to a brilliant start. They started off cautiously in the first couple of overs but have now hit the 50-run mark in the first five overs. Dhawan hammered the second ball of the Kevin O’Brien over for a six over long off and then the bowler offered width to Rohit which was dispatched to cover fence. Add to it three singles and it’s 13 runs off the over.

Indian players to score 6,000-plus runs in T20 cricket:

Suresh Raina
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Gautam Gambhir 
MS Dhoni
SHIKHAR DHAWAN*

This is the first time India and Ireland are playing T20I series against each other. They have played only one T20I against each other before today back in 2009 which India won by eight wickets.

FOUR! Width offered by O’Brien, Rohit stays in the crease and hammers it through cover-point. Too easy.

Kevin O’Brien into the attack now.

Dhawan getting into the act now… suddenly a spike in the run-rate. Ireland need to be careful here otherwise things will quickly get out of hand. Both these batsmen know how to accelerate especially the left hander. We are still awaiting the off-spinner Simi Singh… not sure he will bowl in the powerplay. That will be a stretch.

After 4 overs**, India** 37/0 ( Rohit Sharma 17 , Shikhar Dhawan 15)

Another good over for India. Rankin missed his lengths on a couple of occasions, he was too full, he missed his lines too as one was wide and one was on the pads, both the deliveries were dispatched to the fence. A single off the last ball made it 9 off the over.

FOUR! Poor lines but lovely shot. Full on the pads from Rankin, Rohit flicks it nonchalantly over short fine leg.

FOUR! Rohit Sharma gets into the act. A touch wide outside off from Rankin, Rohit lofts it over cover-point.

Rankin back into the attack

After 3 overs**,India** 28/0 ( Rohit Sharma 8 , Shikhar Dhawan 15)

After starting off cautiously, India are getting in the groove. Dhawan has taken the aggressive route. Two fours and a six in the over to make it 17 off the over. Thompson was too full and wayward and got punished.

FOUR! Dhawan shuffles, Thompson drifts it way down the leg side, Dhawan pulls it wide of short fine leg. 10 off the last 2 balls in the over.

SIX! Dhawan looks in the mood. It’s full outside off and angling in, Dhawan hammers it over deep mid-wicket.

Two clips down the leg side and India are away in fine style after a slowish start… Rohit looking calm in the middle. Indian fans in the crowd bring up Daler Mehndi… drums and drums…. 

FYI… no DRS available in today’s game and also on Friday.

FOUR! Dhawan gets into the act. Charges down the track and lofts Thompson over mid off.

Stuart Thompson into the attack now.

After 2 overs,India 11/0 ( Rohit Sharma 7 , Shikhar Dhawan 0)

The pitch looks a tad slower. Chase struggled to get his lines right. He was a bit too legsidish. And he ended up conceding two boundaries in the over, one a leg byes to fine leg and other a thick inside edge to the same region. Rohit looked a bit impatient in that over.

Shikhar Dhawan has amassed 1682 runs from 53 T20Is at an average of 35.79 which is the fourth most by any player during that period. He would like to use this opportunity to get some runs under his belt before the LOIs against England begins.

FOUR! Off the inside edge! Full on middle and leg, Rohit goes for an on drive but gets a thick inside edge wide of short fine leg.

FOUR LEG BYES! Chase drifts down the leg side, Rohit looks to flick but misses, the ball flicks his pads and runs away to the fine leg fence.

Peter Chase will share the new ball

After 1 overs,India 1/0 ( Rohit Sharma 1 , Shikhar Dhawan 0)

A decent start from Rankin. Just a single off the first over. He didn’t get much movement off air or the surface but he was disciplined with his lines and lengths. Rohit flicked one to mid-wicket for a single to get India off the mark. Dhawan drove one nicely but the coverpoint fielder made a good save to deny a boundary.

Good support for India in the stands!

There is a lot of noise made by the Indian supporters. And as I type. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan walk out to the crease. Boyd Rankin will start off proceedings.

The players have made their way out for the national anthems

While the world might be divided on KL Rahul’s exclusion from the playing eleven at the start of this tour, it is more worrying that India’s second line of pacers haven’t had a bowl in ages. Umesh Yadav last played an ODI in September 2017. He last played a T20I in 2012. Sid Kaul is waiting for his international debut since December. There has to come a time when either of Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Jasprit Bumrah have to be benched for the greater good.

Loud cheer across the ground after toss… and it is pretty obvious to guess… India are batting first, albeit Ireland have won the toss and opted to bowl first. 

Both KL Rahul and Umesh Yadav are left out. That’s half surprising. Most expected Rahul to slot in at no.4. Additionally, high time India played one of their second-line pacers. Oh well, what do we know about team selection.

This is India’s 100th T20I match. They are the seventh side to reach the landmark. MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina were part of India’s inaugural match and they are featuring in India’s 100th T20I as well.

Ireland XI: Gary Wilson, Paul Stirling, James Shannon, Andrew Balbirnie, Simi Singh, Stuart Poynter, Kevin O Brien, Stuart Thompson, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, Peter Chase

India XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

Team news: 

William Porterfield and Andy McBrine miss out for Ireland. Washington Sundar is playing for India despite an injury scare while playing football yesterday. He was seen hobbling off the field during practice yesterday.

Ireland XI: Gary Wilson(c), Paul Stirling, James Shannon, Andrew Balbirnie, Simi Singh, Stuart Poynter(w), Kevin O Brien, Stuart Thompson, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, Peter Chase

Virat Kohli: We would have bowled first as well. I think the wicket will play well with the sun out. We practised in London for a day and we practised here yesterday. We have played the format enough, we have played IPL for two months, so we don’t need to practise much as we are used to it. Weather is something that we need to get used to.

India XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

Wilson: It like a good wicket. It is a very hard ground to defend so that played a big part in the decision. The preparations have been good, we had four games in Holland and a game against Sussex. (The fact that India are good chasers) played a part in the decision to opt to field.

Virat Kohli informs he is fit, fine and ready to go. Good news for the Indian fans ahead of a long….long tour.

TOSS – Gary Wilson has won the toss and Ireland have elected to bowl.

Right toss time, the two captains – Virat Kohli and Gary Wilson are out in the middle.

Walking around in Dublin for the last two days, I couldn’t really spot many Indians here. Today, trains full of fans in bright blue Indian jerseys are arriving here. It’s going to be packed and more importantly, it will be festive here in Malahide today as well as on Friday. Everyone wants to have a good time, including the Ireland team. Perhaps, only India mean business seeing as the England tour is up next.

Hellos from The Village… A quaint ground in Malahide that plays host to the Men in Blue for only the second time in Irish cricket history… Yes, India have come to play here for the first time since 2007.

Pitch report: Murali Kartik has good hard look at the pitch and says, “It is a well rolled wicket, this looks to be a flat deck. There is line of green grass going on either side of the pitch but center of the wicket is well rolled. It is going to be a good contest between bat and ball on this pitch.”

Of late, we have seen a debate spurring up over the state of ODI cricket after England thrashed Australia and scored 481 runs recently in an ODI. Sachin brought up the issue of how using two new balls in ODI cricket has led to bowlers failing to reverse swing the ball. Here’s Snehal Pradhan decoding all that is wrong with white ball. Click here to read.

Sachin Tendulkar had earlier said that the current Indian bowling line-up is the most complete one in recent years. Read the full report here .

Indian team is currently placed at third in the ICC T20 team rankings and Virat Kohli is placed at eighth in the batting chart. The Ireland series is a chance for captain Virat Kohli to improve his and Team India’s rankings. Read the full report  here .

The football World Cup may be attracting viewers across the planet but cricket has a huge audience too, with a fanbase of more than a billion people, a major new survey says. Click to read the full report here .

In 32 ODIs since June 2017, India have used only five pacers (not counting all-rounder Hardik Pandya). It seems a healthy count, but only if all those five bowlers had been duly rotated. That doesn’t seem to be the case. Click here to read Chetan Narula’s piece on why India need to test their pace-bowling options in Ireland T20I series.

On Wednesday, 11 years later, Gary Wilson will lead Ireland out against India as the Men in Blue visit the country for only the second time in their cricket history, writes Chetan Narula. Read the full preview here .

Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the Ireland vs India 1st T20I being played at Dublin.