India rode on an all-round effort to kick off their English summer with a 76-run thrashing of minnows Ireland in the first of the two-match T20I series on Wednesday. Put into bat, the visitors posted a commanding 208/5, thanks to brilliant half centuries from seasoned openers Rohit Sharma (97 off 61 balls; 4×8, 6×5) and Shikhar (74 off 45 balls; 4×5, 6×5) before the bowlers sprung into action to restrict the hosts for a meagre 132/9.
Ireland’s chase surrounded around opener James Shannon’s (60 off 35; 4×5, 6×4) half century as all the other batsmen faltered in reading India’s wrist spin twins — Yuzvendra Chahal (3/38) and Kuldeep Yadav (4/21).
This is my first trip to the UK and it has started well. I think the wicket was good to bat on and it was turning a little bit. We bowled variations and tried to bowl in the right areas. Me and Chahal talk a lot when we bowl. First Chahal bowled and he told me that pitch is little slow. If we use variations nicely it will be difficult for England too.
Kuldeep Yadav
The 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. Bowlers did a clinical job too. We are going to be flexible in the next few T-20 matches. It presents the opportunity for the batsmen who don”t get the opportunity to bat. The guys who don”t get a chance too will get an opportunity in the next match. The guys are fine with this decision.
Virat Kohli
They are a world class side and their top-2 played beautifully. I did not expect it to spin as it did in the second innings. We could have bowled spinners in the powerplay. We are going to have a chat to tackle their spinners.
Gary Wilson
