Ireland stunned World T20 champions India to register their first ever win

Ireland achieved one of the biggest results in their T20I history when they beat reigning world champions India by 34 runs in the opening match of the two-match series at the Civil Service Cricket Club on Friday. It was Ireland’s first ever win over India in any format, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead in the series.Chasing 183 on a lively surface that offered help to the fast bowlers, India started positively but failed to adjust once the field widened. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 148 as Ireland’s disciplined pace attack exposed India’s impatience despite a blistering knock from Abhishek Sharma.The left-arm opener provided the only real resistance, racing to a 20-ball half-century and briefly keeping India in the hunt. However, wickets continued to fall around him as Ireland kept up the relentless pressure.Debutant pacer Jai Moondra enjoyed a dream start to his international career by dismissing Sanju Samson who pulled the ball back onto his stumps. Matt Hollard then struck twice in quick succession to remove Ishan Kishan and new captain Shreyas Iyer. Kishan failed to attempt a leg-side hit, while Iyer failed to clear the deep after mistimed the slower delivery.India reached 68/3 at the end of the over, but Abhishek’s aggressive innings ended when he picked out Ben Calitz with a shot off Liam McCarthy. From there, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and the lower order were unable to build meaningful partnerships as Ireland completed a memorable win.Earlier in the day, India got off to an impressive start after electing to field first. Harshit Rana, who returned from a four-month injury lay-off, took figures of 3/24 as India reduced Ireland to 36/3 in the Powerplay.Ross Adair, Harry Tector and Tim Tector all departed early, with Rana dismissing Adair and Tim using short-ball tactics, while Arshdeep Singh trapped Harry Tector by drawing him into the attacking drive.Shivam Dube then accounted for Benjamin Calitz after the bat hit two sixes off Prasidh Krishna, leaving Ireland struggling at 51/4.Captain Lorcan Tucker leveled the innings with a composed 50 off 36 deliveries. After a cautious start, Tucker shifted gears brilliantly, hammering Axar Patel with two fours and a six in one before reaching his half-century in just 35 balls. His innings also featured an inventive boundary scooping off Prasidh Krishna before Harshit Rana returned to end his stay.With Ireland on 115/5, Gareth Delany and George Dockrell launched a strong counter-attack which proved decisive. The duo added 49 runs in quick time and targeted the Indian bowlers in the death overs.Delany narrowly missed his half-century and scored 49, while Dockrell made a brisk 19. The turning point came in Prasidh Krishna’s final over, where Delany and Dockrell smashed 27 runs, including one four and three consecutive sixes, which completely shifted the momentum in Ireland’s favour.Washington Sundar also suffered a costly outing, conceding 19 runs in his lone over, while Axar Patel’s expensive spell added to India’s woes in the closing stages. These expensive overs eventually helped Ireland push their total to a competitive 182/9.Harshit Rana finished as India’s outstanding bowler with 3/24 while Arshdeep Singh took 2/28 and Axar Patel took two wickets. However, a disciplined Irish bowling effort and clinical execution during India’s chase ensured they celebrated a landmark victory over the World T20 champions.The match also saw teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wait longer for his international debut as India retained their regular opening combination and did not include the 15-year-old in the playing eleven.

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