India Needs Strong Batting Display After Ireland Posts 182/9, Dube Says

Belfast — India all-rounder Shivam Dube praised Ireland’s recovery after the hosts posted a competitive 182/9 in the opening T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club.

India reduced Ireland to 36/3 during the Powerplay, but captain Lorcan Tucker scored 50 and Gareth Delany added an aggressive 49 to help the hosts recover and set India a target of 183.

“Definitely, they batted really well. Amazing batting by all of them. And I think it’s a good total. We have to bat really well to achieve this total,” Dube said during the innings break.

Dube dismissed Benjamin Calitz with a slower delivery and said bowling hard lengths was important on the Belfast surface.

“On these kinds of conditions, you need to bowl on the hard lengths. So that was my plan, you told me I’m a genuine all-rounder, so I have to bowl,” he quipped,” he explained.

Dube also said the Indian team had enjoyed its experience in Ireland after previously playing in Dublin.

“It’s great. We really enjoy playing in Ireland. We played in Dublin. It was really good. Now we are here… The crowd is amazing. The wicket is good. We are really enjoying this,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s recent success in T20 cricket, Dube said the team remained focused on upcoming challenges rather than past accomplishments.

“For us, it’s not important what we have done in the past. As a player, what our coach said to us is, You have to focus on the future. What we have done is past now. We are focusing on what we can do next,” he added.

Harshit Rana led India’s bowling attack with figures of 3/24. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel claimed two wickets each as Ireland finished with 182 runs for the loss of nine wickets.

India needs 183 to win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series. (Source: IANS)