Ireland vs India Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! That's the way to do it! Josh Little goes wide of the crease as he hurls a full ball around off, Deepak Hooda steps back to make room and forces his drive through cover-point for a boundary. INDIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS!

FOUR! Pure timing and crisp placement. Josh Little dishes out a shortish delivery, around off, Deepak Hooda hangs on the back foot and crunches it through the gap at extra cover for a glorious boundary.

FOUR! Smashed away! Back of a length, outside off, Karthik camps back and whacks it through point for a boundary. India are one big shot away now!

Josh Little will continue.

Wide! Drifting down the leg side, Karthik tries to work it across the line but misses. 10 needed more.

In the channel outside off, on a good length and nipping away, Dinesh Karthik shoulders arms.

Hits the deck hard, around off and gets it to jump onto the batter, Hooda goes on his toes and taps it down on the surface. Karthik calls him through for a quick run.

DK is off the mark! On a length and around leg, Karthik clips it to deep square leg for a single.

Wide! Short and quite wide outside off, DK initially shapes to play at it but then withdraws his bat.

Fuller in length and on middle, Karthik defends it back to the bowler.

Fraction short and outside off, Hooda steers it past the point fielder for a single.

Dinesh Karthik walks out to the middle.

OUT! LBW! Little steams in and spears a full ball in the line of the stumps, getting it to curve in a bit off the seam, Pandya is deep inside the crease, aiming to heave it over the leg side but misses. He is rapped on the back leg, the bowler appeals and the umpire agrees. Hardik takes the DRS but the Ball Tracking shows that it's clipping the leg stump. Umpire's call. The Indian skipper departs. 15 needed off 24 balls.

Wide! Short and down the leg side, Pandya tries to glance but misses.

SIX! That's colossal! Back of a length, around off and angling away, Pandya rocks on the back foot and rockets it straight down the ground for a biggie. Sheer power from the skipper.

Josh Little switches to over the wicket and delivers it a touch short on off, Hooda punches it to the right of point and rotates the strike. 22 needed more.

FOUR! Hooda is showing his full range here. Back of a length, around off, Deepak Hooda leans back, waits for it and then ramps it behind the keeper for a boundary.

FOUR! Finds the gap and raises the 50-run stand. India are motoring towards the target. Width there outside off, short in length, Hooda goes back and slaps it through the gap between short third man and backward point.

Little speeds in from 'round the wicket and delivers it full around off, Hooda mistimes his drive to mid off.

Josh Little is back on. He went for 15 runs in his first over!

Aerial but safe! A touch short in length and outside off, Pandya moves back and throws his bat at it. It flies off the toe end but doesn't carry to mid off.

Beaten! Around off, on a length and straightening a touch, Pandya tries to stroke it off the back foot but misses.

Short and around off, shooting off the surface, Deepak Hooda goes back to punch but it hits the splice of his bat and goes wide of the keeper. Lorcan Tucker dives across to make a half-stop and they cross.

Short in length and outside off, Hooda leaps on the back foot and smacks it to deep cover. The fielder makes a tumbling stop and they take two runs.

Better this time! Conor Olphert serves it on a length around middle, getting it to shape away a shade, Deepak steps back to hit it through the line but misses.

SIX! Boom! Conor Olphert starts with a length ball, around leg and drifting down, Deepak Hooda picks it off his pads and dumps it over fine leg. 34 needed off 35 balls.

Debutant Conor Olphert is introduced into the attack.

SIX! Hardik Pandya goes big again, 21 from the over! This is full, right in the slot on middle. Pandya gets under it and tonks it over long on for a biggie. India need 40 from 36 balls now!

This is fuller on middle. Hooda eases it down to long on for a single.

A flatter one again, on off. Hooda pushes it towards covers.

WIDE! Pushes it quicker but down the leg side. Hooda looks to clip it but misses.

SIX! Hooda follows his captain, and sends it into the stands! This is full on middle, Hooda dances down the track and launches it way over long on for a maximum.

Shortish length on middle, Pandya works it to deep mid-wicket for a single this time.

SIX! Hardik Pandya loves to bat against spinners and he has made his intention clear on the first ball itself! Tossed up around middle, right in the slot and Pandya hammers it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Change in bowling. Andy McBrine to bowl his offies.

Single to end the over and 61 needed from 42 balls now! Fullish delivery on middle, Pandya works it to the right of mid on for a single.

There is still some movement off the deck! Lands on a good length, outside off. It seams away as Pandya is the man who is beaten this time, trying to push this wide delivery away.

Bit fuller on middle, Hooda works it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Beaten! On a length and outside off. Some away swing there and Hooda, who tries to push it away, gets beaten.

Another dot ball! This is a length ball, on off, Hooda drives uppishly but the ball falls short of the cover fielder in the ring.

Lands on a length, on off, Hooda only manages to defend it onto the turf.

WIDE! Fullish delivery but wider outside off. Hooda looks to slash it away but misses.

Craig Young to continue...

Dot to end the over and India finish the Powerplay with a score of 45/2! Back of a length, on off, Pandya blocks it off the back foot. 64 needed off 48 balls.

Short on off and slower in pace, Hooda goes back and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Edgy boundary but Hooda will take it! A good-length delivery, around off. Hooda looks to push it away but gets a thick outside edge and the ball runs past the short third man fielder for a boundary.

WIDE! Mark Adair sees Hooda charging and tries to bounce him but errs in line and bowls it way down the leg side.

FOUR! Much-needed boundary for Deepak Hooda! Length delivery on off, Hooda picks the length quickly and slams it towards the mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

On a length, on off. Hooda punches it to covers.

Good delivery! Lands on a length and it seams back in. Hooda tries to work it towards the leg side but gets beaten off the inside edge.

FOUR! Hardik Pandya gets off the mark with a boundary! Fullish delivery on off, Pandya stays still in his crease and hammers it towards long on. It bounces just inside the fence and goes away for a boundary. End of an eventful over, 15 runs and two wickets from it.

NO BALL! Young oversteps here! Back of a length, around off. Pandya punches it towards cover-point. Free Hit coming up.

OUT! LBW! Craig Young delivers an inswinger, and lands it on a length around off, Suryakumar Yadav tries to defend from the back foot but is beaten by the inward movement. He is rapped on the back leg, they appeal and the finger goes up. Suryakumar Yadav has a word with his partner and takes the DRS. The UltraEdge finds no bat and the Ball Tracking confirms that it's a golden duck for SKY. All reds and in cricket, when it's red, you have to be on your bike and scoot away to the pavilion. Hardik Pandya is the new batter with India in a spot of bother.

Suryakumar Yadav is the number 3 batter. 79 needed off 56 balls.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Finally, Craig Young gets his length right and gets the reward! This is a lot fuller on middle, a hint of inswing there and Kishan looks to blast it away towards the leg side. He, however, misses it completely and the ball shatters the stumps. Kishan departs after a handy cameo and this is a much-needed wicket for Ireland.

Much better but they can go a lot fuller here. Back of a length, on middle. Kishan pushes it to mid on.

SIX! This is poor bowling from the Irish bowlers. They are bowling too short at the moment. It is short on middle, Kishan pulls it over deep backward square leg for a biggie.

FOUR! Craig Young is greeted with a boundary by Kishan! Young lands it on a length, outside off. Kishan waits for it and just uses the pace of the bowler to guide it through the point region for a boundary.

Will Josh Little get another over in the Powerplay? Nopes. He has been removed and in comes Craig Young.

Goes fuller on off. Hooda blocks it out. Good start from Mark Adair!

Tad shorter outside off again. Kishan slaps it towards the cover fielder in the ring. He half-stops it and a single is taken.

WIDE! This is slightly shorter and wider outside off. Kishan looks to get his bat on it but misses.

Drifts on the pads. Hooda looks to flick it but misses. The ball brushes his pads and goes towards the right of the short fine leg fielder. A leg bye is taken.

On a length, on off, Hooda pushes it to mid on.

Adair lands it on a length, outside off. Kishan pushes it towards sweeper cover for a single.

Goes fuller on middle and leg. Hooda looks to clip it but gets a leading edge towards covers for a single.

Who will bowl now? It's going to be Mark Adair.

Goes a tad fuller and outside off, Kishan looks to punch it away but misses. India are off to a rollicking start!

FOUR! The length has been quite surprising from Little! Keeps it short again, outside off. Kishan cuts it over point for a boundary.

SIX! This young boy is not going to back away! Short in length and around off, Kishan rides the bounce and pulls it handsomely over the mid-wicket for a maximum.

FOUR! Ishan Kishan is off the mark in style! Poor delivery this, Little drifts on the pads. Fine leg is inside the ring and Kishan smacks it away towards the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Keeps it short again, on off. Kishan dabs it square of the wicket on the off side.

Josh Little starts off with a shortish delivery, around off. Hooda guides it towards third man and gets off the mark with a single.

Fuller in length and around leg, Harry Tector whips it to deep square leg and the fielder slips there while stopping the ball. The batters get two runs. 17 from the over, Ireland finish on 108 for 4.

SIX! Smashed away! Khan misses his yorker and ends up bowling a full toss, around off. Tector makes room and slams it over deep extra cover for a maximum.

Dropped! A fullish slower delivery, outside off. Tector makes room and slices it towards deep extra-cover. It goes high in the air and Patel running to his left reaches the ball but fails to pouch it. Two taken.

WIDE! Full and way wide outside off, Tector goes chasing for it but misses.

FOUR! This has been a gem of an innings from Harry Tector! A full toss on middle and leg. Tector reverse-scoops it towards the third man fence for a boundary. This has been a good recovery from Ireland!

Fuller delivery again, on off. George Dockrell mistimes his drive towards the cover fielder in the ring, and he goes for a single.

FIFTY for Harry Tector! A brilliant knock from the young man, he has taken his team to a respectable total here! A very full ball on middle, Tector digs it out to long on for a single.

Avesh Khan to bowl the final over.

This is a googly again, that pitches around leg, George Dockrell looks to heave it across the line but misses. Luckily for him, the ball turns in and just misses the leg stump. 3-0-11-1, exceptional from Chahal.

Chahal with a quicker one on off, Tector pushes it to covers for just a single.

This is fuller on off. George Dockrell swings his bat across the line but hits it straight to long on, along the ground, for a single.

Goes flatter and quicker on off, Tector makes a bit of room and pushes it to covers for a single.

A fuller delivery on middle. George Dockrell drills it straight down the ground and the fielder at long on moves to his left and cuts it off. A single taken.

This is a googly, around leg. George Dockrell backs away and looks to heave it away but misses.

Will Yuzvendra Chahal continue? Yes, he is.

On a length, around off. George Dockrell opens the face of his blade and guides it towards deep point for a single. With the last two overs remaining, how many more can Ireland get?

Shortish length, outside off. Tector cuts to deep point this time for a single.

Short and outside off, Tector cuts it but straight to the backward point fielder.

SIX! What a superb shot this is! Fuller in length, around off, Tector strides forward and lofts it nonchalantly over covers for a biggie. Not an easy shot to play but he has nailed it.

On a length, on middle. Tector works it towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.

FOUR! Bhuvneshwar Kumar is greeted in his new spell with a boundary! Short and outside off, Tector makes room and slaps it towards deep cover-point. The fielder in the deep runs to his right and dives to stop. He collects the ball but ends up sliding into the rope. A boundary for Tector!

Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to bowl, another three overs left in the innings.

This is pushed quicker and shorter, around off. George Dockrell cuts but finds the fielder at covers. Just 4 runs from the over and a wicket for Chahal, brilliant stuff!

On middle and fuller. Tector works it towards the leg side for a single.

George Dockrell walks in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Yuzvendra Chahal strikes as Lorcan Tucker holes out in the deep! Tossed up, landing full and outside off. Tucker goes down on one knee for the slog-sweep but has to fetch it. He connects but fails to get enough distance and Axar Patel at deep mid-wicket takes a fine catch. Chahal breaks this good partnership for Ireland!

Tossed up, outside off. Tector drives it to long off for a single. The 50-run stand comes up.

This is a lot fuller, around leg, Tucker makes a bit of room and looks to sweep it but misses. The ball hits his pads and goes towards the off side. A leg bye is taken.

A flatter delivery on leg. Tector punches it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

A length delivery on middle, slower in pace. Tucker looks to work it towards the leg side but mistimes it onto the turf. 13 from the over!

SIX! Another good shot from Tucker! Pandya delivers it on a length, around middle, Tucker stays deep in his crease and launches it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

SIX! This time he connects and it sails over the square leg fence! Pandya goes short and on off but it's a pacy delivery this time and Tucker hooks it over deep square leg for a maximum.

Change of pace! An off-pace short delivery, around off. Tucker looks to pull it away but misses.

Shortish length again, around off. Tector pushes it to covers and takes a single. Ireland need boundaries here!

Pandya hits the hard length on middle, Tector skips down the track but only manages to push it back to the bowler.

Hardik Pandya returns to bowl his second over. He picked up the prized scalp of Paul Stirling and went for 13 runs in his opening over.

Another googly angling into leg. Tector works it to deep mid-wicket for another single. Tidy start from Chahal!

A half-tracker on middle. Tucker pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A flighted delivery on middle, Tector flicks it to wide long on for a single.

Tosses this up again on middle, Tucker sweeps it to fine leg for a single.

Slower through the air on middle, Tucker comes down the track and looks to clip it away but gets hit on the pads again.

Chahal starts with a googly on middle and leg. Tucker goes back and looks to work it towards the leg side but misses. The ball hits his pads and rolls towards the off side.

Yuzvendra Chahal is into the attack now.

SIX! Fighting fire with fire. Umran Malik bangs it in short, around off at 145 kph, Harry Tector hangs on the back foot and hammer-pulls it over deep square leg for a biggie. 50 up! 18 from Umran's first over in international cricket.

Wide! Umran Malik has not got his radar yet. A low full toss, way down the leg side at 143 kph, the batter tries to flick but misses.

FOUR! The crowd goes silent. Umran Malik delivers it from wide of the crease. It's full and around middle at 142 kph, Harry Tector shows the full face of his bat and caresses it down the ground for a boundary at long on.

Back of a length, around off at 140 kph, Lorcan Tucker guides it down to third man for a run.

FOUR LEG BYES! Umran goes full but it's down the leg side at 143 kph. Tucker fails to flick and it goes off his boots to the fine leg fence.

A 145 kph delivery, full and around off, Tector keeps it out off the inner edge to square leg and they cross.

Fuller and around off, driven through covers for a run.

Loopy and full, around off, it's swept along the ground to deep square leg for a run. 12 from the over!

NOT OUT! Fuller and around off, skidding in, Tector keeps it out off the inner half to mid-wicket and Tucker comes out of the crease, looking for a run. His partner responds as Axar attacks the ball. The bowler scores a direct hit at his end and they appeal. The third umpire is referred. Harry Tector is found to be safe in the replays.

Is that a run out? Axar Patel has fired a direct hit at the bowler's end. However, the replays show that Harry Tector is well inside his crease. He will continue.

FOUR! Gorgeous! This time Tector goes aerial, plays an inside-out shot over covers and sends it almost over the fence. A boundary is signalled.

FOUR! That's a good drive! Very full and wide outside off, Harry Tector latches onto the width and drills it through extra cover.

Loopy and full, around off, Tucker tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up around off, driven through covers for a single.

Time for some spin now. Axar Patel is into the attack.

Unplayable! Excellent length from Avesh, around off, on a fuller length and shaping away, Lorcan Tucker tries to flick but is beaten all ends up by the away movement. The Powerplay is over, Ireland are in tatters at 22 for 3.

Lorcan Tucker walks out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Back of a length, around off and holding its line, Gareth Delany rocks back and tries to slap it through the line but gets a faint inside edge to the keeper. Dinesh Karthik collects, the Indians appeal and Gareth Delany is seen walking. Ireland have started on the wrong note here. It's a 12-over game but still, you need to build partnerships.

Beauty! A touch short and around off, moving away a shade off the seam, Gareth Delany steps back and tries to punch but misses.

Fuller and on middle, Harry runs down the track to flick but gets it away off the inner edge. It deflects off his pads to mid on and they steal a run.

EDGY FOUR! Avesh bowls it full but wide outside off, shaping away again, Harry Tector flashes his bat at it and edges it over the slip cordon for a boundary.

Play and a miss! Avesh lands it on a length and outside off, getting it to shape away, Tector throws his bat at it but fails to connect.

Avesh Khan is into the attack now.

Another overthrow conceded. Fullish and on off, Harry Tector drives it a bit uppishly towards mid on. The fielder has an unnecessary shy at the bowling end this time. He finds the stumps and it deflects towards square leg. The batters cross.

Some late inswing this time. Full and outside off, Tector tries to drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Skillful bowling. Kumar serves another inswinger, this time on a length and outside off, Harry walks forward and tries to flick but misses. It goes off his thigh pad to backward point.

Inswinger this time, going down the leg side, Delany attempts to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to square leg and they collect a leg bye.

Again an outswinger landing on a length around off, Delany pushes it a bit aerially off the leading edge but it doesn't carry to mid off.

Edgy! Again a little bit of movement for Kumar. He serves it on a length around middle, it moves away a bit after landing, Tector tries to flick but it takes the leading edge and scoots down to third man. They cross for a run.

FOUR! Fine shot! Hardik Pandya angles it in, around off on a good length, Gareth Delany stays on the back foot and cracks it through the gap at covers for a boundary.

Well stopped by Hooda! On a good length and outside off, Delany blazes his shot at wide mid off where Hooda dives across to his left and makes a superb stop. He gets up and scores a direct hit at the bowler's end. The ball ricochets to deep mid-wicket and the batters collect two runs.

Short and wide outside off, Gareth Delany flashes his bat at it and misses.

Width there outside off, Delany stays back and runs it down to third man for a couple of runs.

Harry Tector is the next man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Both the Irish openers have been sent packing in the first 8 balls. Hardik Pandya hurls across a length ball close to off, Paul Stirling sticks on the back foot and once again tries to chip it over the infield on the off side. This time though it flies off the toe end of his bat and Deepak Hooda backtracks a bit to secure the skier at wide mid off.

FOUR! This is how Paul Stirling bats. A little bit of width outside off, on a good length, Paul stays back and lofts it over covers for a boundary.

Play and a miss! It's on a length and outside off, Paul Stirling throws his bat at it but it seams away to beat the outside edge.

The skipper, Hardik Pandya starts from the other end.

Shout for an lbw, the finger has stayed down and India have decided to review the decision. Bhuvneshwar Kumar hurls across a length ball, around off and gets it to jag back in sharply off the seam. Gareth Delany tries to flick from the back foot but misses. He is pinged on the pads, but the umpire turns down the appeal. Ball Tracking shows that it's missing the stumps. India lose a review.

Gareth Delany walks out at number 3.

OUT! BOWLED! The last delivery moved away from the batter and this one shapes back in a long way from outside off. It's on a length, Andy Balbirnie stays back to play it straight down but the ball nips in and goes through the gap to dislodge the bails. Early setback for the Irish team.

Delivers it on a good length and outside off, shaping away, Andy Balbirnie plays it down from the back foot to point.

Drifting down the leg side, Paul Stirling tries to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to fine leg and they cross for a leg bye. Ireland are away!

Slightly short again, around off, Paul Stirling punches but finds the cover fielder.

Misunderstanding straight away. Back of a length, around middle, Stirling defends it down towards square leg and Balbirnie comes out of the crease, in search of a run. The fielder has a shy but it hits the non-striker instead as he is sent back. The ball deflects down the ground but they decide not to take a run. Good sportsmanship!

We are done with all the talking and it's time for the action to begin now! Indian players have made their way out to the middle. Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie are the openers for Ireland. It will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar to start with the ball. He should enjoy these conditions. Here we go...

As we move closer to the start time, Suryakumar Yadav is seen on the field chatting with his teammates. This is a big positive for India that SKY is fit and raring to go again. He has been brilliant for India whenever he has played and let's hope he stays fit now.

We are minutes away from getting underway. The Indian bowlers are going through their warm-up drills. Here are the revised conditions. Powerplay will be of 4 overs and two bowlers can bowl a maximum of three overs apiece.

Update 10.50 IST (5.20 pm GMT) -  We have some good news, folks! The rain has stopped and the covers are coming off. We have decided to not get overexcited this time. But the next update is very promising. We have a START TIME! It's going to be a 12-overs-per-side game and the match is set to begin at 11.20 pm IST (5.50 pm GMT).

And here is my colleague with a witty reply on Sanju Samson playing the waiting game. He quips - 'Maybe the problem for the team management is that Sanju does not believe in the waiting game when he is batting.' Glad that he is not on social media, would have been trolled for this one-liner.

Apart from the fans cursing the rain and desperately waiting for Umran Malik to steam in and bowl, social media is also flooded with messages from a section of people feeling bad for Sanju Samson. The Rajasthan skipper, who led his team to the final in the recently concluded season of the Indian T20 League, failed to find a place in the starting XI of the second-string Indian team. To be honest, we all thought Samson will get the preference but the team management decided to go with Deepak Hooda. The waiting game for Sanju also continues...

Update 10.25 pm IST (4.55 pm GMT) - Our joy lasted for just 9 minutes. Unfortunately, the rain has returned and so are the covers.

Update 10.16 pm IST (4.46 pm GMT) - The update we all were waiting for has arrived. Cricket Ireland tweets - 'The rain has stopped and the covers are coming off! There's still no word on a start time but some positive news.' Fingers crossed.

As the rain dance continues in Dublin, let’s just move away a bit eastwards and sneak into what is happening at Headingley. England are chasing a target of 296 there, they had lost 2 wickets with 51 on the board but the stand between Root and Pope has helped them recover and now they require below 200 to clean sweep New Zealand. One must say, England are the favourites going by the way this new England team under the leadership combo of Stokes and McCullum has played. You can switch tabs and enjoy that game for a while. However, don’t go far away as we continue to bring all the updates from Malahide.

Update 9.57 pm IST (4.27 pm GMT) - 'The rain is light and the super sopper is at work, but there is no update on a start time as yet...' tweets the official handle of Cricket Ireland.

As we wait for the action to unfold here in Dublin, an Indian team in whites has completed its warm-up game against Leicestershire just some 430 km away from this Irish city. It seems that India had a decent outing with almost everyone spending some valuable time in the middle, especially in the second innings. In the batting department, Kohli, Jadeja and Gill scored the fifties while Pant and Srikar Bharat, the two Indian wicketkeepers, also had good outings with the bat. In the bowling department, the most heartening part for the Indian fans would be to see Ashwin bowling in the second innings and getting two wickets as well after he arrived late. However, the bad news coming out from the Indian camp is that the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma who batted in the first innings has been reported covid positive and that will be a big blow to the visitors.

Update 9.33 pm IST (4.03 pm GMT) - It's raining now. The wait continues. Thick heavy clouds are still around. The umpires are on the ground, getting the latest information from the groundsmen. Let's hope for some better weather soon.

More than cricket, we have interviews to push as updates for now. Here is Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Indian opener says that it has been a good learning curve for him and representing India is something you dream of. Adds that you learn a lot when you play with top players and he praises Hardik Pandya for his captaincy during the recently concluded Indian T20 League. Gaikwad is excited to play under Pandya. He reckons that batting in Ireland is going to be challenging. Shares that the preparation went really well. Mentions that it is a bit of a challenge to open the innings but as an opener, he gets an opportunity to bat the full quota of 20 overs, so he enjoys batting at the top. Talks about his international career so far and says that he is happy with the progress he has made as a professional cricketer.

Update 9.11 pm IST (3.41 pm GMT) - Unfortunately, the covers are still on. The rain has stopped but it looks more like a precautionary move to keep the covers on as the dark clouds are still hovering over the ground. We can see India's head coach for this series, VVS Laxman, having a word with the match officials. Later on, the two umpires were seen chatting with the two captains as well. Not sure what was said! We will let you know if we get any updates. Stay tuned.

Avesh Khan is down for a quick chat. He says that the ball swings here and he will try his best to make good use of any help that bowlers will get. Adds that it is a proud moment for him to represent India and he considers every match as a new beginning and tries to learn from every game. Mentions that he tries to learn from Bhuvneshwar Kumar on how the pitch is behaving as he bowls the first over most of the time and shares that he enjoys practising with the other bowlers. Tells that it is just the start of his international career and he is looking to perform whenever he gets an opportunity and feels that it will be important to adapt to the different conditions.

We had a short burst of rain after the toss but luckily it looks clear now and Alan Wilkins (on air) informs us that we will most probably have a full game here. We trust you, Wilko!

Ireland (Playing XI) - Andy Balbirnie (C), Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Craig Young, Josh Little, Conor Olphert.

India (Playing XI) - Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik.

Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland, says that they would have bowled first as the covers were on and there will be some help for the bowlers. Tells that the squad is brilliant and the guys are very excited and they will look to play a good brand of cricket. Mentions that playing India is great and it is good for the game in Ireland and to have a full house at Malahide is excellent. Talks about the new coach and shares that he is getting along with the team quite well. Informs that Conor Olphert will make his debut.

Hardik Pandya, the captain of India, says that they want to bowl first looking at the forecast, otherwise they would have batted first. Adds that Ireland is showing the three kinds of weather and it is all over the place. Says that he is looking forward to the two upcoming games. Mentions that it's an honour for him to lead India and a special moment in his life. Tells that they all are professionals and his role is simple, just to back his players. Confirms that Umran Malik is making his debut.

Toss time! Just a delay of around 7 minutes and we can see Hardik Pandya and Andy Balbirnie walk out in the middle. Andy Balbirnie tosses the coin up and it lands in favour of Hardik Pandya. INDIA WILL BOWL FIRST!