IRE vs IND: India, led by Jasprit Bumrah, aims to extend their winning streak against Ireland ahead of the Asia Cup

Jasprit Bumrah-led India look to extend winning run against Ireland ahead of Asia Cup

Written by: Namrata Sawal

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: 2023-08-18 11:23:08

India has played Ireland in just eight games overall, including three ODIs and five T20 Internationals. It's impressive that India has never lost against the Irish and has always prevailed. India's skipper, Jasprit Bumrah, comes back for the series after a protracted back ailment that kept him out of the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Border-Gavaskar series, and the 2023 World Test Championship.

The most recent T20I series between the two teams took place in June 2022, with India defeating Ireland by a score of 2-0. Harry Hector scored an amazing 50 runs for Ireland in the first game of the series. But with 7 wickets in hand, India successfully chased down Ireland's total, helped by a standout effort by wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

India, Afghanistan, and co-host Sri Lanka have yet to release their 2023 Asia Cup rosters. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to Cricbuzz, is anticipated to announce India's starting squad on Sunday, August 20. Notably, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have confirmed their teams for the tournament. The selection committee reportedly prioritized evaluating the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah, who is making his comeback after nearly a year. Bumrah will lead a second-string Indian team against Ireland in a three-match T20I series, with the first match scheduled for Friday (August 18).

Previously, PTI indicated that the delay in announcing India's Asia Cup 2023 schedule was due to selectors' preference to wait for KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Both players hold significance in India's ODI World Cup 2023 strategies. If the National Cricket Academy confirms their fitness, their participation in Asia Cup 2023 matches could offer them valuable match practice before the World Cup.

India might introduce debuts to emerging Indian Premier League talents Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma. The two players showcased their skills during IPL 2023, making significant contributions to their respective teams throughout the season. Despite Kolkata Knight Riders finishing in the seventh position and Punjab Kings in the eighth position, both Rinku and Jitesh delivered noteworthy performances, marking an unforgettable IPL for them.