Shreyas Iyer - (Source: AFP)
Team India has suffered a major blow ahead of their series-deciding second T20I against Ireland. After suffering a demoralizing loss at the hands of the hosts in the first T20I on Friday, June 26; yet another concerning update has arrived for the ‘Men in Blue’ from Belfast.
Notably, the scheduled optional training session of the Indian cricket team in Belfast on June 27 was cancelled owing to wet conditions at the venue.
Major blow for Shreyas Iyer as India denied practice after loss
The optional training session of the Indian cricket team in Belfast has been cancelled just a day prior to their impending decider against Ireland.
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As reported by Sports Now journalist Ankan Kar on X, the training session was scrapped owing to wet conditions caused by ceaseless rains in the Irish capital.
It is worth noting that rains also threatened to disrupt the first T20I between the two sides at the same Belfast based venue on Friday, June 26. With rains also threatening the second T20I, Team India is on the cusp of recording a rare series defeat against Ireland.
Abhishek Sharma says India needs to adapt
Abhishek Sharma, India’s lone hero from their demoralizing loss against Ireland in the first T20I, said that the team needs to adapt in Ireland conditions in a bid to succeed.
While speaking with the reporters after the match, the firebrand Indian opener said “Its just how quickly we adapt the conditions, that's really matters as a team, because when you are playing back-to-back games, as a group you have to step forward and get used to the conditions, whenever you get practice sessions or probably get used to.”
He added “I feel as a dominating team, you have to adapt really quick and that's what we were trying today, but unfortunately it didn't happen.”
With Abhishek Sharma emphasizing on the importance of practice sessions in Ireland, the cancellation of India's optional training due to persistent rain could come as a significant setback, especially ahead of a must-win encounter
Shreyas Iyer’s era starts off on a torrid note
Team India, under the leadership of newly-appointed captain Shreyas Iyer, lost the first T20I by 34 runs to go 0-1 down in the two-match series at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast.
With Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana both picking up wickets with the new ball to jolt Ireland at 51-4, the hosts still ended up mounting 182-9 from 20 overs. Captain Lorcan Tucker made 50 runs from 36 balls while Gareth Delany slapped a swift 32-ball 49.
In response, Abhishek Sharma blasted 49 runs from just 20 balls to get India off to a flier. However, losing regular wickets from the other end ensured Team India folded up for just 148 in 18.5 overs.
The ‘Men in Blue’ now need to win the impending decider in a bid to level the two-match series 1-1. Even if the visitors manage to win the match and level the series, the Indian team is still set to ‘not win’ its first T20I series since August 2023.
Since losing to West Indies by a 2-3 margin nearly three years ago, Team India has registered wins in every single T20I series, either bilateral or multi-nation events like T20 World Cups and Asia Cups.
The second T20I between the two sides will be played on Sunday, June 28 in Belfast.
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