How should India Playing XI look for the Ireland clash? Should Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube get another chance or should India play safe? On Wednesday, all those questions will be answered in their first T20 World Cup match. With all eyes on the mega IND vs PAK clash on Sunday, IND vs IRE will be the last chance for Rohit Sharma & Co to warm up. But two players are likely to be on the bench and they are Sanju Samson and Mohd Siraj.
With no challenge against Bangladesh and no Virat Kohli, the only official T20 World Cup warm-up clash was rather fruitless for India Cricket Team. But worry not, Team India have three warm-ups in the group stage against Ireland, USA and Canada and the only proper threat will be from an out-of-form Pakistan.
As the India vs Pakistan clash will be a crucial one, Rohit Sharma & Co will have one chance to sort things out before that game. And there are problems aplenty in terms of combinations in India Playing XI.
Who is the opening pair?
Even though Sanju Samson and Rohit Sharma opened against Bangladesh, it’s almost guaranteed that Rohit will have a different partner. But who is going to be that partner? Virat Kohli or Yashasvi Jaiswal?
Despite his success as an opener, Virat Kohli may still stick to his No 3 slot as Rahul Dravid does not like experimenting on the big stage. And it’s Yashasvi Jaiswal who is likely to get the spot back in the IND vs IRE match despite missing the warm-up.
Having Jaiswal gives India a left-right opening combination. However, if Kohli does open, it will benefit Team India immensely. India can go for an extra pacer or spinner if Kohli takes the opening spot in India Playing XI.
Sanju Samson out?
There has been a joke that BCCI tries hard to not include Sanju Samson and then when he is picked, the Rajasthan Royals captain tries hard to justify BCCI. Something of that sort happened in the Bangladesh game. Samson scored 1 off 6 balls before his struggles came to an end.
His rival Rishabh Pant who got a promotion to No 3 smashed 32-ball 53. He looked in his element. But he did not keep wickets. However, going by how he kept wickets in IPL 2024, it’s all but certain that Pant will get the keeper-batter role in India Playing XI in IND vs IRE match.
Shivam Dube or Axar Patel?
As things stand, either Shivam Dube or Axar Pate will get the nod in IND vs IRE match. Dube did not have a great outing with the bat as he struggled against his favourite bowling — spin. He scored just 14 off 16 including a 6 despite playing spinner only. However, with two wickets for just 13 runs at 4.33, he did bowl well.
On the other hand, Axar Patel did not bat but he bowled two overs for 10 runs and returned with a wicket. With the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium providing a sluggish pitch and uneven bounce, India could be in a fix to pick the best option. However, with Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav certain to play, it’s unlikely that India will go for another spinner. Hence, Shivam Dube could get the nod in India Playing XI.
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Arshdeep Singh vs Mohd Siraj
While Jaspreet Bumrah is the lead of the pack in bowling, it will be tricky to decide the second seamer in India Playing XI. Arshdeep bowled an excellent spell in IND vs BAN match, scalping two wickets for 12 runs in 3 overs. Mohd Siraj bagged a wicket for 17 runs in three overs as well.
However, Arshdeep could be in the lead as he is a left-arm seamer and it could add to India’s bowling variety.
Predicted India Playing XI vs Ireland
- 1. Rohit Sharma
- 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
- 3. Virat Kohli
- 4. Suryakumar Yadav
- 5. Rishabh Pant (WK)
- 6. Shivam Dube
- 7. Hardik Pandya
- 8. Ravindra Jadeja
- 9. Kuldeep Yadav
- 10. Jasprit Bumrah
- 11. Arshdeep Singh
