Ireland vs India 2018: India Probable 11 for 2nd T20I vs Ireland

India ensured that they cannot lose the T20I series against Ireland courtesy of a convincing win in the first T20I at Malahide. As they look to wrap up the T20I series, there are some interesting questions that will be raised regarding how the side will line-up.

India captain Virat Kohli has already hinted at the possibility of some changes to the Indian side that will take on Ireland in the second T20I on Friday.

Following the win, Kohli said: "We have already announced that apart from the opening combination we are going to do a lot of experiments in the middle order. We are going to be flexible in the next few T20s. We will look to throw in guys when the situation requires them to come in and try to surprise the opposition."

He also added that the batsmen who didn't get a chance to bat will be given an opportunity and the guys who didn't get a chance in the first game will get it on Friday. With that being the case, it is certain that there will be plenty of changes to the Indian side going into the second T20I. Here is a look at India probable 11 for 2nd T20I vs Ireland:

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma

If there is one area that Kohli has said that he wouldn't change. And why should he? Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma combined for the fourth-biggest opening partnership in T20I history in the first T20I at Malahide. To disrupt their incredible momentum ahead of the crucial tour of England would be counterproductive.

Rohit didn't have a great time in IPL 2018 but he put aside the ghosts of the tournament and fell agonisingly short of what would have been his third T20I century. Shikhar Dhawan continued his impressive form from the IPL and brought up yet another fifty to improve his otherwise average numbers in T20Is.

The pair will get another chance to blossom in the second T20I and will look to etch their names in the record books with another standout performance.

Middle-order

After a stellar IPL, KL Rahul will finally get his chance to shine again for India

Virat Kohli

One of the more surprising aspects of the first T20I between Ireland and Ireland was the scorecard. One that saw Virat Kohli getting out for a duck, for only the second time in his T20I career. And that meant that for the first time since early 2016, Kohli's T20I average dropped below 50. That will be something he will want to address in the second T20I.

KL Rahul

If there is one player who was unlucky to not have got an opportunity to play in the first T20I, it was KL Rahul. Especially considering his incredible form in the IPL but India went with Suresh Raina and it looks like he will come into the side for the southpaw in the second T20I. While he won't open the innings, at least he will get a chance to impress in the middle-order.

Dinesh Karthik

Another player who deserved a chance but didn't get it was Dinesh Karthik. For KKR in IPL 2018, Karthik showed that he is the ideal finisher and that is a role he might get to fulfil in the second T20I if India gets to bat second.

Wicketkeeper

Dhoni will look to continue his impressive IPL form for India

MS Dhoni

Amidst the plethora of changes India are likely to make, MS Dhoni won't be one among them. As he didn't have a great opportunity to bat in the first match, India will be keen to give Dhoni another chance in the second T20I, especially considering the fact that he is coming off an IPL, in which he turned back the clock.

In IPL 2018, Dhoni had arguably his finest IPL in terms of impact with the bat and was his usual quick self behind the wickets. He will want to continue that form in national colours, where he hasn't lived up to his incredible standards consistently in the last few years.

Spinners

Chahal has formed a potent partnership with Kuldeep

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal

If there is one area where India seem ahead of the curve it is in the spin department, where they possess not one but two world-class wrist spinners, who are capable of making an impact irrespective of the conditions.

Kuldeep Yadav finished with his career-best T20I figures in the first T20I and also broke a world record in the process. Although Chahal wasn't as good, he was the one who got the ball rolling and will want to add to his tally of T20I wickets in the second T20I.

Fast bowlers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be looking to improve in the second T20I

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Although India have been reluctant to rest either Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Jasprit Bumrah in recent times, the fact that Bhuvi got more rest during the IPL, owing to injury is likely to mean that he gets the nod ahead of Bumrah as India look to experiment with their pace line-up.

Umesh Yadav

One man who will benefit from that will be Umesh Yadav, who basically reinvented himself during IPL 2018. He will be eager to showcase that in national colours and prove that his form in the IPL wasn't just a one-off.

Siddarth Kaul

Another player who looks set to benefit from India trying out everyone will be Siddarth Kaul, who looks set to make his India debut against Ireland in the second T20I. His partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and his vast array of variations should come in handy against the hosts, who looked clueless for the most part of the first T20I against the subtle variations of the Indian seamers.