TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsIndia have got everything they wanted to to from the first two T20Is against Ireland. Their first goal would have been to win the series and they have already done that with a game to go. Though the biggest takeaway from this series was always going to be Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna’s match fitness and both of them look more than ready for the 50-over format.
The likes of Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh have been amongst the runs, while Washington Sundar has also looked in good rhythm in his comeback series. In his first series as a T20I captain, Bumrah has been proactive with the bowling changes and the Men in Blue have looked a far better unit than they looked against West Indies.
Meanwhile, Ireland have produced a couple of solid individual performances but most of their star players - skipper Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, George Dockrell and Joshua Little - haven’t done anything fruitful in the series. The fate of the series has already been decided, but the hosts would want to put up a better fight in the third and final T20I on Wednesday (August 23).
Things to watch out for
Indian seamers not finishing well
India have the third-worst economy rate (10.1) and bowling average (20.6) at the death since 2022 (top-10 teams), and it has largely to do with Bumrah playing only seven T20Is in this period. If you look at this series, India reduced Ireland to 31/5 in the first T20I, but still ended up conceding 53 runs in the last five overs.
Bumrah (ER 4.5), Prasidh (14) and Arshdeep (10) are the only three bowlers who have operated in the final phase (16-20) in this series and it’s just the former who has looked comfortable bowling under pressure. While Arshdeep leaked 22 runs in the 20th over in the first T20I, Prasidh has conceded 15 and 13 runs in the two overs he has bowled in this phase.
Let’s look at what they have done in the last two overs (19-20) of the innings. Since 2022, Arshdeep has an economy of 12.7 in the final two overs. The left-arm seamer has a history of conceding runs in his final over, where he has an economy of 12 after playing 33 T20Is. Avesh Khan, who is warming the bench, isn’t better either.
This might not be doing any harm against Ireland but could cost India when they come up against big teams. Bumrah is a bank in all three phases, but will need some support from the other end, especially in death overs.
Stirling, Tector need to step up
Stirling and Tector not scoring runs have hurt Ireland big time in this series. The last time India toured Ireland in 2022, Tector put on quite a show and was a big reason why the hosts managed to put up a fight. However, the 23-year-old has only managed 16 runs in this series. In fact, he has been averaging less than 21 this year and has a strike rate of just 105.6.
Then you have an experienced campaigner like Stirling, who has an average of just 9.33 against India in six T20Is. The 32-year-old opener hasn’t been at his best for a while now and has scored most of his runs in dead rubbers. Stirling, who got out to Ravi Bishnoi in the first T20I, has terrible numbers against legspin since 2022. The right-hander has gotten out to them eight times in 12 innings and has an average of just 8.1.
Pitch and conditions
The Village in Malahide, Dublin, is one of the major cricketing venues in Ireland. However, due to the lack of international cricket in the country, the venue has hosted only five games since 2021.
In this period, the batters here have operated at an average of 26.1 and a strike rate of 147.1. It’s been a high-scoring ground but Ireland batters haven’t been able to capitalise on the good batting conditions. India got 185/5 in the second T20I and then stopped Ireland at 152/8.
There’s not much difference between spinners and pacers. Since 2021, both have an economy of more than 8 and an average close to 27. There’s also a chance of rain, but we shall have enough game time to come up with a result.
Tactical nous
In what was his debut innings in international cricket, Rinku Singh did what he has been doing in the Indian Premier League for the last two seasons. The left-hander slammed 38* off 21 deliveries, but 23 of those came off his last six deliveries. Rinku was 15 off 15 at one stage before going berserk in the final two overs.
Also read - Rinku Singh: Finisher Extraordinaire?
Rinku smoked three maximums and a four in the space of six deliveries and got India past 180. This is exactly what he did for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023. It’s no secret that Rinku likes to take his time before switching to fifth gear in the last few overs. However, looking at the above graphic, you would notice he could be kept quiet bowling short deliveries.
Probable XIs
India - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube/Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh/Avesh Khan, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Ravi Bishnoi.
Ireland - Ross Adair, Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Benjamin White/Gareth Delany, Craig Young, Joshua Little.
