Ireland vs India, 2nd T20I: Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda’s record partnership led India to win the T20I series against a fearless Irish team

The visitors India won the two-match T20I series against the hosts Ireland by 2-0 after winning the high-scoring thriller by four runs in the last game of the series at Dublin.

After winning the toss, Indian captain Hardik Pandya chose to bat first. Deepak Hooda’s century and opener Sanju Samson’s maiden international fifty helped the visitors to manage the first innings total of 225/7 in 20 overs.

Chasing down that giant target, Ireland were fearless in their innings. They needed six runs on the final ball of the match but finished that innings on 221/5 in 20 overs. They were so close to the historic win against India as they just failed to finish the game successfully.

India won the first game of this two-match T20I series by seven wickets in the rain-interrupted game last Sunday (26th June).

Ireland vs India, 2nd T20I: Playing XIs

India made three changes in the squad from the last game. Sanju Samson, Harshal Patel and Ravi Bishnoi replaced injured Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal. On the other hand, the hosts Ireland fielded the same playing XI of their previous T20I in this game.

India playing XI:  Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Umran Malik.

Ireland playing XI: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Craig Young, Josh Little, Conor Olphert.

Indian innings

Opener Ishan Kishan scored only three runs as the right-arm pacer Mark Adair dismissed him to provide the early breakthrough for the team in the third over.

But the other opening batter Sanju Samson and the no.3 batter Deepak Hooda quickly made the situation comfortable for the visitors as they easily dominated with the bats. India scored 54/1 at the end of the first six overs of that innings.

Hooda completed 50 runs in 27 balls while Samson reached his 50 runs in 31 balls. Both recorded their first 50 runs in their international careers during that innings. They dominantly set up the 176 runs partnership for the second wicket that ended when Adair bowled Samson for 77 runs off 42 balls (9 fours and 4 sixes) in the 17th over.

Soon after that partnership was broken, Hooda completed his first international century in 55 balls. Josh Little ultimately dismissed Hooda in the 18th over after the right-handed batter scored 104 off 57 balls (9 fours and 6 sixes).

Though the visitors lost quick wickets at the end, they hadn’t much difficulty putting the giant T20I total on the board.   

Among the Irish bowlers, Mark Adair (3/42) got three wickets, while Josh Little (2/38) and Craig Young (2/35) both bagged two wickets each in that innings. Young was playing his 50th T20I during that home game.

Some key stats of that innings  

The partnership between Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda

• Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda’s 176-run partnership for the second wicket is India’s new T20I record partnership for any wicket. The previous record was a 165-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul against Sri Lanka at Indore on 22nd December 2017.  
• It is also the highest second-wicket partnership in T20I history. The previous record was 167 runs unbroken second-wicket partnership between England cricketers Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan against South Africa at Cape Town on 1st December 2020.

Deepak Hooda’s century

• Deepak Hooda became the fourth Indian batter to score a T20I century as the right-handed batter scored 104 runs. The other names in this list are Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma (four T20I centuries) and KL Rahul.
• Deepak Hooda is now holding the record of the earliest Indian player to score a T20I century (in terms of the number of innings). While it was Hooda’s third T20I innings, he broke KL Rahul’s previous record, who scored his first T20I century in his fourth innings.
• After KL Rahul (101* vs England at Manchester on 3rd July 2018) and Rohit Sharma (100* vs England at Bristol on 8th July 2018), Deepak Hooda became the third Indian cricketer to score a T20I century at away venues (only home of the oppositions).

Ireland innings

Ireland managed a fiery start at chasing. Openers Paul Stirling and skipper Andy Balbirnie set up the fifty-run partnership in 23 balls. Stirling already smashed 40 off 18 balls (5 fours and 3 sixes) when Ravi Bishnoi bowled the opener in the last over of the powerplay. They finally scored 73/1 at the end of the powerplay, including the 72-run opening partnership.  

In the seventh over, Gareth Delany was run-out for a duck, thanks to the captain Hardik Pandya’s direct hit.

However, the opener and skipper Balbirnie was becoming dangerous due to his regular sixes and fours. He completed his sixth T20 fifty in 34 balls, out of which 44 runs came from the boundaries (2 fours and 6 sixes).

Harshal Patel ultimately ended Balbirnie’s threat as he lost his wicket after giving a catch to Ravi Bishnoi at the deep point. The skipper scored 60 off 37 balls with the help of three fours and seven sixes.

Umran Malik took his first T20I wicket after dismissing the wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker (5).

But thrashing George Dockrell and set Harry Tector continuously threatened the visitors at late. In less than four overs, they had a firing 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Ultimately, Bhuvneshwar Kumar brought the crucial breakthrough for the Indian team in the 18th over when he dismissed Tector for 39 runs off 28 balls (5 fours).

But Dockrell continued his attack and Mark Adair also played crucial cameo to stretch the game to the final ball of the match. The Indian bowlers ultimately hold their nerves as they secured a four-run win.

Dockrell remained not out on 34 off 16 balls (3 fours and 3 sixes) while Adair scored 23 not out off 12 balls (3 fours and only six).

Key records in this innings

Ireland’s most sixes in a T20I innings

• Ireland hit 14 sixes in their innings which was their most sixes in a T20I innings. Their previous record was 12 sixes in a T20I innings for twice.

Ireland’s second most T20I total

• Ireland recorded their second most T20I total after scoring 221/5 in 20 overs. Their record T20I total is 225/7 in 20 overs against Afghanistan at Abu Dhabi on 30th November 2013.