Hardik Pandya aiming to secure the series when his team walk in to the field in the second T20 international against Ireland at Castle Avenue on Tuesday.
India’s highly energised limited-overs team in the absence of all-format players got off to a good start in Ireland with a 7-wicket in the series opener on Sunday.
In addition to trying to win the two-match series on Tuesday, the Hardik Pandya-led side wants to keep up its winning streak before the England challenge, where team India will have to play 3ODIS and 3T20Is. The limited-over campaign between India and England will start from July 07.
In the first T20I, Deepak Hooda and Hardik Pandya played the sensational knocks with the bat as India defeated Ireland in a rain-hit first T20I game at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin on Sunday.
Sent in to bat, Ireland posted 108 in 12 overs, thanks to Harry Tector’s 33-ball 64. In reply, India thrashed Ireland bowlers and achieved the target in just 9.2 overs.
Deepak Hooda, the usual middle-order, came into bat alongside Ishan Kishan to open the proceedings. This change stunned viewers but his classic knock of 29-ball 47* won hearts.
Hardik Pandya – 9th player to lead India in T20Is
Hardik Pandya captain of India for the Ireland tour is happy with team’s performance in the first T20. And now he is looking to win the second match to secure the series.
The 28-year-old Hardik Pandya is the 9th captain overall to lead the Indian side. Previous players were Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Rishabh Pant.
Apart from that, Pandya also created a record in the first T20. After dismissing Paul Stirling in the second over he became the first Indian Captain to claim a wicket in T20Is.
The second match of the 2-match series will be played at the Castle Avenue in Dublin on Tuesday.
After this series, India will a play 3ODIs and 3T20Is against mighty England side starting on July 7.
