Rinku Singh won the Player of the Match Award
Just two days later, on 20 August, he grandly announced himself by delivering a match-winning performance in the second T20I. His fearless batting not only earned him the Man of the Match award but also secured the series for India. From that moment, fans felt they had finally found the perfect successor to Dhoni as the team’s finisher.
After winning the toss, Ireland decided to bowl first, giving India the chance to set a target in the second T20I at Malahide, Dublin. India made the most of it, putting up a solid 185 for 5 in their 20 overs. The innings kicked off with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who came out swinging. He smashed 18 runs off just 11 balls, hitting two fours and a towering six to get India off to a flyer. His aggressive approach looked dangerous, but Craig Young got him out in the fourth over when Curtis Campher took a sharp catch. That early wicket slowed things down a bit, and India faced another setback when Tilak Varma, trying to find his rhythm, got out for just 1 run. Barry McCarthy’s delivery had him caught by George Dockrell, leaving India at 34 for 2 after 4.1 overs.
Ruturaj Gaikwad stepped up to steady the ship. He played with a mix of caution and flair, scoring 58 runs off 43 balls. His innings included six crisp fours and a six, showing he could both anchor and accelerate. Gaikwad found a great partner in Sanju Samson, who walked in and started finding gaps right away. Samson scored a quick 40 off 26 balls, smashing five fours and a six. The two added 71 runs for the third wicket, keeping the scoreboard ticking nicely. Their partnership was a blend of smart running and powerful shots, with Samson especially looking in control. But just when it seemed like they’d take the game away, Ben White bowled a beauty to clean up Samson in the 12th over, breaking the stand.
With Gaikwad still at the crease, India kept pushing forward. He reached his fifty in 39 balls, a solid effort that showed his class. However, Barry McCarthy struck again in the 15th over, getting Gaikwad caught by Harry Tector for 58. At 129 for 4, India needed a spark, and Rinku Singh delivered. Coming in at No. 5, Rinku played a blinder, scoring 38 runs off 21 balls. He hit two fours and three huge sixes, taking the attack to the Irish bowlers. His fearless approach was exactly what India needed. Shivam Dube, at the other end, played the perfect supporting role, finishing unbeaten on 22 off 16 balls with two sixes of his own.
Together, Rinku and Dube put on 55 runs in just 27 balls for the fifth wicket, giving India a late surge. Rinku fell in the final over to Mark Adair, but his knock ensured India crossed 180. Washington Sundar faced one ball and was not out on 0. Ireland’s bowlers had a tough day. Barry McCarthy was the standout, picking up 2 wickets for 36 runs, but he was expensive at times. Mark Adair, Craig Young, and Ben White each took a wicket, but none could stop the flow of runs.
Josh Little had a rough outing, going for 48 runs in his four overs without a wicket. Ireland gave away 8 extras, including 5 wides, which didn’t help their cause. India’s innings had its moments of caution but exploded in the latter half. They scored 47 runs in the powerplay (overs 1–6), reached 100 by the 11th over, and crossed 150 in the 18th. The final push, thanks to Rinku and Dube, gave India a challenging total of 185 for 5, setting up a tough chase for Ireland on a decent batting surface.
Chasing 186, Ireland needed a strong start, but India’s bowlers had other plans. Ireland ended up with 152 for 8 in their 20 overs, falling 33 runs short. The innings got off to a shaky start when captain Paul Stirling was dismissed for a duck in the third over. Prasidh Krishna bowled a fiery spell, and Stirling’s mistimed shot went straight to Arshdeep Singh. Things got worse when Lorcan Tucker followed for 0, also off Krishna’s bowling, caught by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Ireland were 19 for 2 after 3 overs, and the pressure was on. Harry Tector tried to fight back but managed only 7 runs before Ravi Bishnoi bowled him in the sixth over, leaving Ireland at 28 for 3.
Andy Balbirnie was the one bright spot for Ireland. He played a gutsy knock, scoring 72 runs off 51 balls with five fours and four sixes. His innings was a mix of elegant drives and powerful hits, keeping Ireland in the hunt. Balbirnie reached his fifty in 39 balls, showing great composure. He found some support from Curtis Campher, who scored 18 off 17 balls, including a six. The two added 35 runs for the fourth wicket, giving Ireland a glimmer of hope. But Bishnoi struck again in the 10th over, getting Campher caught by Shivam Dube, breaking the partnership.
George Dockrell came in and played a handy knock of 13 off 11 balls, including a six. He and Balbirnie put on 52 runs for the fifth wicket, keeping the chase alive. But a brilliant piece of fielding by Ravi Bishnoi led to Dockrell’s run-out in the 15th over, with Sanju Samson completing the job behind the stumps. Balbirnie kept fighting, but his innings ended in the 16th over when Arshdeep Singh had him caught by Samson for 72. At 123 for 6, Ireland’s chances were slipping away. Mark Adair tried to keep the fight going with a quick 23 off 15 balls, hitting three sixes but Jasprit Bumrah dismissed him in the 19th over, caught by Tilak Varma.
Barry McCarthy scored just 2 before Bumrah got him and Craig Young (1 not out) and Josh Little (0 not out) couldn’t do much in the final overs. India’s bowlers were outstanding. Jasprit Bumrah was the star, taking 2 wickets for just 15 runs in four overs, including a maiden. His pace and accuracy were too much for Ireland. Prasidh Krishna also picked up 2 wickets for 29 runs, striking early to set the tone. Ravi Bishnoi’s 2 for 37 included key wickets, while Arshdeep Singh took 1 for 29.
Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube didn’t take wickets but bowled tightly, conceding 19 and 18 runs respectively. Ireland’s innings saw 31 runs in the powerplay, 50 by the 8th over, and 100 by the 14th. They got 16 extras, including 11 wides, but the mounting required rate and regular wickets meant they couldn’t keep up. Balbirnie’s 72 was heroic, but without enough support, Ireland finished at 152 for 8, handing India a 33-run win and a 2-0 series lead.