This defeat marked Ireland’s first-ever win over India in any format and gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
After choosing to bowl, India reduced Ireland to 30 for three during the powerplay, but captain Lorcan Tucker’s half-century alongside Gareth Delany’s 49 allowed the hosts to recover to a total of 182 for nine.
“I think the bowlers started off well, getting lateral movement and taking a couple of wickets. We had a fantastic start, but then we lost execution in the middle,” Iyer reflected after the match.
The India skipper believed his bowlers allowed Ireland to target the shorter straight boundaries during the middle overs, leading to a score that was above par.
“I felt 140 would have been a brilliant score based on our start. Nevertheless, it’s a valuable experience here. We learned a lot about the pitch,” he stated.
This was Iyer’s first match as full-time T20I captain, and he mentioned that the team would swiftly move on from the loss ahead of the series decider.
“We’re going to leave this behind. There’s definitely much to learn from this game, and we’ll ensure we come back stronger in the next match.”
Iyer commended Harshit Rana, who returned from injury with impressive figures of 3 for 24, and Shivam Dube for capitalizing on the favorable conditions.
“Harshit Rana was outstanding. To perform at this level after an injury and display this talent is simply remarkable,” he remarked.
The India captain also cautioned against complacency, emphasizing that every international match requires complete focus.
“You can’t take anything for granted. You can’t just arrive and expect to win. Hard work and staying present is essential.”
Ireland’s captain Lorcan Tucker hailed the victory as a significant moment in the team’s history, crediting his players for their composure after early setbacks.
The wicketkeeper-batter added that clinching a series victory over India would be another milestone for Irish cricket when the teams face off again in the second and final T20I.
