Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan believes his side have the ability to beat the world’s best teams as they prepare for their T20 World Cup opener against India on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Highlights from the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup, where Ireland claimed a shock victory over England
“India is an experienced side, which means there’s a lot of dots (to connect) and a lot of information out there. So hopefully we can look to find a couple of areas we can try and exploit.”
Can India secure World Cup glory?
India have not won a T20 World Cup since 2007 and will be looking to end their 17-year wait to get their hands on the trophy, with captain Rohit Sharma expecting to see his side play with freedom despite that winless drought.
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India beat Pakistan 3-0 in a five-ball bowl-out at three stumps at the 2007 World Cup after their group match ended in a tie.
“I’m just going to play my game and help the team in whatever way I can and get everyone together to play as a team,” Sharma said. “Not looking at the larger picture, I don’t think those kinds of thoughts will help so much.
“I’m sure everyone in the team have their own way of dealing with tournaments like the World Cup. I think it’s important not to look too far ahead. Just think about what we need to do tomorrow. Play the game well and then take it from there. We won’t think too much and put ourselves under pressure.”
Can Ireland cause an upset against India? Watch live on Wednesday from 3pm on Sky Sports Cricket (first ball at 3.30pm). Watch every match from the Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports between now and June 29.
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