table of contents
The India national cricket team faced the Ireland national cricket team in the second and final T20 match at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast, Ireland. Lorcan Tucker’s team created history by defeating Shreyas Iyer’s Team India by one run and won the series 2-0. Jai Mundhra’s heroics helped India face the Men in Blue’s first series defeat in three years.
Shreyas Iyer will be angry with the way the team has played in the series, which will put a black mark on his first series of captaincy as he lost his first series. The Men in Blue captain won the toss and once again elected to field first, making a few changes, with Suryansh Shedge and Prince Yadav getting their maiden T20I caps. Ireland played only its winning team in the first match.
Prince Yadav shines on debut
Ireland got off to a great start after being invited to bat first, but Harshit Rana took the first wicket by dismissing Tim Tector for just five runs. Arshdeep Singh picked out dangerous looking Ross Adair for 16 runs. Tucker could not stay at the crease for long and was out after scoring 15 runs. Then, a brilliant partnership between Harry Tector and Ben Calitz led to 65 runs in 43 balls.
Calitz was back on 37, and Shivam Dubey was the golden man for the team, dismissing Gareth Delany for a golden duck. After two wickets. Harry Tector returned to the pavilion after scoring 53 runs and Ireland’s score was 154/8. Prince Yadav performed brilliantly in his debut match, taking three wickets for 22 runs in his four overs.
Jai Mundhra destroyed Indian batsmen
While chasing, Shreyas Iyer’s side had the worst start as openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were out in the very first over, Jai Mundra took wickets in the very first over and both the openers were out for a duck. The left-arm fast bowler bowled really well and took 3 wickets for 32 runs in his four overs.
Tilak Verma scored 56 runs, and small contributions from Shivam Dubey and 21 runs from Harshit Rana kept the visitors in the game. But in the end, the Irish took the match, winning on the last ball of the last over and inflicting an upset on the Men in Blue.
“Credit to the team members and management” – Jai Mundra credits the team after POTM’s performance
Jai Mundra also won Player of the Series by taking 5 wickets. After winning the award, he said that it is an amazing feeling and also appreciated the team and management for supporting him. It hasn’t sunk in for the India-born left-arm fast bowler, who demolished the Indian batting order.
Jai Mundra said, “[On winning the Player of the Series award after just two international matches] Still trying to soak in that feeling. I know it’s hard to describe in one word. Playing against the best, testing yourself is an amazing feeling. So just doing the basics for a long time, that was the plan. Credit to the team members and management. keep it simple.”
“There are going to be tough times, but stay calm and composed and do your job. [On the setbacks he overcame] Well, everyone has ups and downs, so you just have to hang in there and keep going through it. nothing more. [On how Ireland have made him feel] Well, he felt like it was just one of them, like there was nothing different from him.”
Jai Mundra further added, “It was an amazing game, good atmosphere, good people. So just doing the duty that they have given me.” [On his mindset when bowling to Sanju Samson] Just keep it simple, stick to what you’re doing. It will be harder, there will be less margin for error. So keep doing what you’re doing and stick to the plan. Oh, I’m still trying to process it.”
