India vs Ireland: Jasprit Bumrah returns to action in style as Men in Blue win rain-affected 1st T20I

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah made an emphatic return to action after a year-long absence as India defeated Ireland by two runs (DLS Method) in a rain-affected 1st T20I in Malahide on Friday.

Bumrah, who is leading a second-string Indian team in the three-match T20I series, struck twice in his very first over of the day and would finish with tidy figures of 2/24 to help restrict Ireland to 139/7 after opting to field.

India, in reply, got off to a positive start and managed to stay ahead of the par score before the heavens opened up at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin, ensuring the Men in Blue took the series lead.

Leading the side on his return after an 11-month injury layoff, Bumrah claimed 2 for 24 with nine dot balls and formed a formidable pair with T20I debutant Prasidh Krishna (2/32) as the duo ran through the Irish top order.

Things looked bleak for the hosts after they were down 59 for 6 in the 11th over but their No 8 Barry McCarthy produced an amazing recovery, blazing his way to a 33-ball 51 not out (4×4, 4×6) to lift their total to a respectable 139 for 7.

He stitched a seventh wicket 57-run partnership with Curtis Campher (39) as Ireland reeled off 53 runs in the last five overs, losing just one wicket.

McCarthy was the stand out batter for the hosts as he reached his maiden half-century with a last-ball six off Arshdeep Singh, who leaked 22 runs in the last over with McCarthy going hammer-and-tongs with two sixes and a four.

Now THAT is how you end an innings and bring up your maiden T20I half century.

Well done Barry McCarthy.

SCORE: https://t.co/ryMh1qvUER#IREvIND #BackingGreen ☘️@JoyEbike pic.twitter.com/Q801GabgEa

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) August 18, 2023

Chasing the tricky target under overcast conditions, India were off to a fluent start with Yashasvi Jaiswal (24; 23b) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (19 not out) putting together 46 runs in 6.2 overs.

But Craig Young produced a double blow, taking the left-handed duo of Jaiswal and Tilak Varma who was out for a golden duck.

India vice-captain Gaikwad, however, showed maturity and watched through the tricky phased, well aware that they were ahead of the DLS par score.

There was no stopping rain as umpires decided to call off the game at 6.15pm local time with India taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The victory also saw India return to winning ways after they went down 2-3 in the T20I series in the West Indies.

Malahide will be hosting all three matches in the series with the second game scheduled for Sunday.

All eyes on Bumrah, the Indian pace sensation did not disappoint.

He bowled with rhythm, accuracy and a lot of venom. His rhythm was a lot better, he ran fast in his run-up to generate momentum and slowly ramped up the speed gun and went on to clock 140kph in the penultimate over when he conceded just one run.

He leaked 13 runs in just one of his four overs — 16th.

Bumrah bowled up front only to see Irish opener Andy Balbirnie nudging his fuller delivery for a boundary behind square boundary.

Bumrah was quick to bounce back and knocked over Balbirnie’s off-stump with a searing inswinger.

He grabbed in-form wicketkepper-batter Lorcan Tucker in his fifth delivery to get his campaign up and running.

What a start from the #TeamIndia captain