T20 World Cup 2024: Fielding Medal Returns as Team India Welcome Special Guest to Handover the Award

Team India’s fan-favourite fielding medal ceremony returned after their opening match against Ireland in the T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue beat the Irish by 8 wickets to get their tournament off to a triumphant start chasing down a modest target of 97 in 12.2 overs.

During the clash, India’s bowling and fielding team put a stranglehold on the opposition as Ireland was bundled out of their second-lowest total in the T20 World Cup of 96.

There were several brilliant performers in the field for the Rohit Sharma-led side with Rishabh Pant being phenomenal with the gloves on his international return. At the same time, Axar Patel inflicted a brilliant caught and bowled dismissal of Barry McCarthy (0 off 6). However, the fast bowler Mohammed Siraj took the honours for running out Garth Delany (16 off 14) with his sharp throw.

To present the award, the team management invited a young fan into the dressing room who handed over the award to Mohammed Siraj. The young fan was excited to see all his favourite players all in one place and posed for photographs with left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh.

 

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Arshdeep bowled a brilliant spell with the new ball as he dismissed both the Irish openers captain Paul Stirling (2 off 6) and Andrew Balbirnie (5 off 10) in his second over with just 9 runs on the board. Apart from him, Hardik Pandya was the pick of the bowlers for India with figures of 3/27 in 4 overs while Jasprit Bumrah picked up 2/6 in 3 overs.

Rohit Sharma Finds Form

Mohammed Siraj (1/13, 3 overs) and Axar Patel (1/3, 1 over) were also among the wickets as Indian bowlers put up a collective show to bundle out Ireland cheaply. In reply, the Men in Blue started the innings with the star duo of Rohit Sharm and Virat Kohli. However, the latter failed to impress in his promotion at the top of the order getting dismissed for just 1(5).

India vs Ireland, T20 World Cup 2024: India Registers Most Successive Wins Against Ireland

On the other hand, Rohit scored a magnificent 52 (37) with the help of 4 fours and 3 sixes. Rishabh Pant also chipped in with a good innings of 36* (26) clobbering 3 fours and 2 sixes. As a result, India won the match by 8 wickets and earned a crucial 2 points in Group A. They will next take on arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9 at Nassau Country International Cricket Stadium, New York.