Ireland Vs India, 1st T20I: India Opt to Bowl as Rain Threatens to Dampen Bumrah’s Return

Dublin: Jasprit Bumrah’s much-awaited return is imminent as he is all set to lead India against Ireland in the first T20I at Malahide Cricket Club, Dublin. Bumrah’s return follows a hiatus due to back issues, which necessitated a surgery in New Zealand earlier this year. Bumrah’s comeback is well-timed, aligning with India’s crucial upcoming encounters in the Asia Cup and the World Cup on home turf.

Weather concerns, however, loom over the series opener, with heavy rain predicted at Malahide. Accuweather highlights a cloud cover of up to 99%, with intermittent rain and thunderstorms anticipated. Throughout the game, there’s a 67% chance of rain, raising uncertainty over the 7:30 PM IST start time.

Accuweather’s “yellow warning” emphasizes potential deteriorating weather conditions as the evening progresses. Amidst this weather backdrop, Bumrah leads a youthful Indian squad that includes debutants like Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma. This infusion of new talent adds an element of anticipation to the team’s composition.

India’s Squad: Jasprit Bumrah (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan