India's Predicted XI vs Ireland, 1st T20I: Will Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma Make Debut?

18.08.2023 - 10:17 sports.ndtv.com

Jasprit Bumrah-led Team India is all set to face Ireland in the first T20I of the three-match series on Friday in Dublin. Coming from a five-match series loss against West Indies, Team India eye redemption against Ireland.

This series also marks the return of pacers Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, who underwent back surgeries and went through a long recovery process.

The team management has also named IPL 2023 like Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad.

The 29-year-old Bumrah is coming back after undergoing a surgery to treat the lower-back stress fractures he had suffered during a home series against Australia ahead of T20 World Cup, last year.

cricket India Cricket Team Ireland Cricket Team 2023 Ravi Bishnoi Rohit Sharma Rahul Dravid Prasidh Krishna Asia Cup Yashasvi Jaiswal Jasprit Bumrah Rinku Singh Australia Washington Ireland India

The Indian cricket team's Cricket World Cup squad is going to be announced on Tuesday. While the team is currently in action in Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup, all eyes will be on this major announcement. The Indian cricket team hasn't won any ICC trophy since 2013 and the ODI World Cup 2023 at home is their biggest chance to end that drought. Ahead of the World Cup squad, India played against Nepal. Although they won comfortably, Rohit Sharma said that they needed to improve the fielding.

Watch: Needing 17 To Win In Super Over, Rinku Singh Smashes 3 Consecutive Sixes

Whenever the name Rinku Singh is heard by a cricket fan, the flashback of him hitting 5 consecutive sixes against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match comes to the fore. Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rinku did the unthinkable as he came up against Yash Dayal in the last over of the match. Playing for Meerut, Rinku did something similar, but this time in a Super Over decider, hitting three consecutive sixes to win the match for his side.

India vs Ireland 3rd T20I, Live Cricket Score: India Aim For Clean Sweep vs Ireland

India vs Ireland, 3rd T20I, Live Updates: India will take on Ireland in the third and final T20I match on Wednesday in Dublin. The Jasprit Bumrah-led side has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and will aim for a clean sweep in the final match.

"Rinku Singh Has Been A Tremendous Story," Says Kolkata Knight Riders Assistant Coach

Having closely tracked the journey of a ‘shy' young boy with ‘low self confidence' evolve into a promising player for India, Abhishek Nayar describes Rinku Singh's story as one of hard work and perseverance. The 25-year-old shot himself into national reckoning ever since he smacked five consecutive sixes to power Kolkata Knight Riders to a shocking win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL this year. On Sunday, he showed he can replicate that at the highest level with a 21-ball 38 against Ireland on his India debut. “I have seen Rinku evolve as an individual. The first time I saw him in the KKR set up, and spent time with him when he came to Mumbai, he was very shy and a guy with very low self belief,” KKR assistant coach Nayar recalled on Tuesday.

"Those Five Sixes Changed My Life": Rinku Singh Relives His Iconic Innings For KKR

He has played just a couple of international matches so far but Rinku Singh is already a popular name among Indian fans thanks to his five successive sixes in IPL 2023. Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, he smashed five sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans to steer his side to a sensational win. Recalling the same, Rinku said that moment changed his life forever. "Those five sixes changed my life. People remember me for that moment. I was feeling great when they took my name and the love they have been showering me with," he said during an interaction with his Indian teammate Ravi Bishnoi on BCCI.tv.

Watch: "Saari Baatein Sunta Hai Captain Ki?" - Jasprit Bumrah's Hilarious Interaction With Rinku Singh Viral

It was a memorable game for Rinku Singh on Sunday as he batted for the first time for the Indian cricket team. The southpaw made his debut in the rain-hit first T20I against Ireland but he got a chance to bat only in the second game. The hard-hitting batter played a vital knock of 21-ball 38 runs in Dublin. Rinku's cameo gave India's innings a much-needed spark, and his 28-ball 55-run stand with Shivam Dube (22 not out) helped India end with a flourish.