Ireland vs India 2018, 2nd T20I: Hits and Misses

The Indian Cricket Team clinched a comprehensive 143-run victory in the second game in the two-match T20 series against Ireland at The Village in Dublin on Friday (June 29). Virat Kohli made four changes in his playing XI from the first game and yet, the visitors barely broke a sweat in steamrolling the Irishmen in their own backyard.

Gary Wilson won the toss and decided to bowl first for the second consecutive time. In a decision that surprised many, Kohli himself came out to open the bat with KL Rahul, instead of sending in Rohit Sharma.

Both Kohli and Sharma couldn't thrive as much in their new positions, though, as Rahul, Suresh Raina, and Hardik Pandya grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. India set up a mammoth target of 214 for the hosts, which proved to be a bit too much for their off-colour batting unit, which capitulated for 70 all-out on the day.

Here are the hits and misses from the game:

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#5 Hit: The Indian twin-spin duo

The Indian wrist-spinning duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav continues to scale new heights with every series, impressing thoroughly with its wicket-taking ability. The spinners came to the party once again against Ireland, picking up three wickets a piece in the second T20I.

Chahal, with his smart and accurate bowling, clinched the Man of the Series award for his plethora of wickets over the two games. Yadav, who was the Player of the Match in the first game, has also snapped up as many as six wickets through the series.

In the second T20, they were responsible for six of the ten Irish dismissals, giving away just 37 runs in a combined total of 6.3 overs. Chahal bowled his quota of four overs, while Yadav required just 2.3 overs to terrorize the Ireland batsmen on the day.

It will be interesting to see how the two youngsters respond to the challenge in England next month, where India will take on the hosts on an extensive, full-fledged tour.

#4 Miss: Rohit Sharma

The Indian opening batsman could not shine in a new batting position on the day

The Indian opening batsman came agonizingly close to scaling the three-figure mark when he was dismissed for a score of 97 in the first match of the series. Rohit Sharma, though, could not replicate that performance in the next game, as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck on the day.

The change brought forth by Kohli in the batting order did not help Sharma's case, as he failed to get going at two-down, falling to the medium pace of Kevin O'Brien. He went back to the pavilion for naught to give the Irishman his second wicket in the 13th over of the Indian innings.

#3 Hit: Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya played a quickfire knock to end the Indian innings on a high note

The Indian all-rounder had a quiet yet extremely efficient day in the office in the second game against Ireland. Hardik Pandya contributed to with the bat as well as the ball on the day, showing why he is one of the most important players in the Indian LOI set-up at the moment.

The right-hander smashed Ireland all over the park in the first innings, slamming 32 unbeaten runs off just nine deliveries to take India past the 200-run mark.

He came up with the goods in the chase as well, finishing with efficient bowling figures of one for 10 in two overs.

#2 Miss: The Irish batting line-up

No Irish batsman could score in excess of 15 runs on the day

While the bowling attack of the hosts was considered to be the weaker dimension to their team in the build-up to this series, a lot was expected from their talented and experienced batting line-up.

However, the men with the willow disappointed for Ireland through the series, failing to challenge the 200-plus targets set up by India in both the games. This innings, in particular, was almost embarrassing for the hosts, as they fell like nine pins to the Indian bowling attack, especially their wrist-spinners.

It is a long road ahead for Ireland in the next couple of years and they must learn from such humbling experiences to grow upwards and onwards in world cricket.

#1 Hit: The Rahul-Raina stand

The right-hand, left-hand combination put up 106 runs for the second wicket

After the early dismissal of Kohli on the day, KL Rahul and Suresh Raina stamped their authority on the Irish bowling attack, putting up a 106-run stand for the second wicket.

Rahul, who was declared the Man of the Match for his immense performance with the bat, as he flaunted his incredible batting form from the IPL, smashing 70 runs off just 36 deliveries. Raina was also one of the best players for India on the day, as he scored 69 runs in just 45 deliveries to play the perfect second fiddle to Rahul's terrific innings.

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