India's ferocious speedster Umran Malik is all set to make his international debut against Ireland. Malik was handed his debut cap by India's pace-bowling spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar before the first T20I in Dublin.
Malik got his maiden international callup in the home T20I series against South Africa but did not get a game. Many former cricketers consider Malik as the X-factor and someone who can make an impact in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
On the other hand, Hardik Pandya became India’s ninth T20I captain. Pandya is leading the second-string Indian T20I side in the absence of permanent skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah.
“We are going to bowl. We would have loved to bat, but looking at the weather we felt bowling would be better. Nice to be in Ireland. Have fans here and feels like playing at home. Absolute honour to lead India. Any cricket who starts playing dreams of leading the country and I am very lucky to be leading my country. My role is simple. Just back them and ask them to play with freedom. Umran makes his debut,” Pandya said after winning the toss.
India Playing XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik
“Probably would have bowled because of the weather around. Guys are excited for this series. Really important to play against one of the best teams in the world. Conor Olphert is going to make his debut today,” Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie said after losing the toss.
Ireland Playing XI: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Craig Young, Joshua Little, Conor Olphert
The 22-year-old had a splendid Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) taking 22 wickets from 14 games at an average of 20.18 including a five-wicket haul. Apart from being SRH's highest wicket-taker in the season, he clocked over 150kmph regularly and broke a few speed records.
Recently India’s 1983 World Cup-winning members Dilip Vengsarkar and Roger Binny lauded the Jammu & Kashmir pace sensation on the 39th anniversary of the famous win.
“He (Umran) is young and raring to go. You must give an opportunity to someone who is in form. He is young, keen to play and hungry for success," Vengsarkar told reporters during the event on June 25.
"There is definitely going to be a bigger bunch of fast bowlers coming through now. And he (Umran) should be given a chance straightaway because he has proved that he is quick and if you saw him bowl some of the yorkers in the IPL that was brute force. So you cannot keep a youngster out for that long," Binny said.
"Well, I am not surprised that somebody, who is coming to the scene (and bowling over 150 kmph), because we have a lot of people (bowling) around the 140-142 area for the last six-seven years and especially in the IPL. I am not surprised (by the sheer pace of Umran)."
