Indian star all-rounder Hardik Pandya delivered a standout performance in the thrilling showdown against Ireland at the Nassau County Stadium on June 5. In India’s first match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Pandya showcased his bowling prowess by dismissing Lorcan Tucker, who scored 10 runs off 13 balls.
The decisive moment came in the 7th over when Pandya bowled a beautiful delivery to Tucker. Bowling his first over, Hardik Pandya hit the seam perfectly, getting the ball to nip back in. Tucker, attempting a straight drive on the front foot, was completely beaten.
The ball, delivered from over the stumps on a length and just outside the off stump, hit the seam and sneaked through to knock the middle stump. It was a spectacular delivery that highlighted Hardik Pandya’s skill and precision.
|/| Uprooted the middle stump! 🤩#HardikPandya joins the party and removes Tucker in his first over! 💪🏻#INDvIRE | LIVE NOW | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/moeN31kn0r
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 5, 2024
Earlier in the game, Arshdeep Singh also made significant inroads into the Irish batting lineup. After India won the toss and opted to bowl, Arshdeep quickly removed Ireland’s openers, Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie, putting India in a strong position.
WATCH – Arshdeep Singh’s Brilliant Spell Cleans Up Balbirnie as India Dominates Over Ireland
At the time of writing, Ireland was struggling at 73 for 8 in 15 overs, with Josh Little and Gareth Delany at the crease. India’s bowlers, led by standout performances from Pandya and Arshdeep, have dominated the match, leaving Ireland in a precarious position.
After winning the toss, India decided to bowl first. Rohit Sharma, speaking about the decision, said, “We’re going to bowl. Preparations have been alright. We have been managing ourselves in these new conditions. It has been challenging but we are all professionals. We played on a similar pitch recently and have a bit of an idea of what to expect.
WATCH – Rohit Sharma Won An Unfair Toss Against Ireland?
“I know it’s going to be slightly different from what we’re used to. But that’s what the sport is about. Not being entirely sure about the conditions, we thought having a target to chase would be advantageous. The players missing out are Kuldeep, Sanju, Jaiswal, and one more,” Rohit Sharma added.
