Ire vs Ind – Abhishek Sharma – India couldn’t adapt to the different pitch and conditions in Belfast

India lost the first T20I against Ireland on Friday in what was their first defeat in any format to the opposition. One of the brightest spots for India in the 34-run defeat was Abhishek Sharma, who scored a blazing 49 in 20 balls, but even he felt the conditions in Belfast weren’t right for playing big shots.

“I feel there was something in the wicket. Like when Ireland were batting, there were a few shots that they executed [well], while there were many shots that were difficult to hit,” Abhishek said in the post-match press conference. “So I feel they bowled well [during India’s chase] in that regard, and executed their plans. As for the rest of India’s batsmen, I think very limited shots came off. But they planned really well.

“I think that as a group, the way Ireland did with the bat, the ball and even in the field, they truly deserved this victory. There were some things we couldn’t execute as a team. But you learn little things from every match and I feel this was one of those matches. We learnt a lot of things. But as a group they played really well. They truly deserved the victory.”

Conditions in Belfast were entirely different to what India get at home, as one would expect. The pitch had help for the fast bowlers, and the square boundaries were big. While Abhishek said the cold weather was “truly one of the best things we have faced from the last three months” given the heat back home in India during the IPL, the visitors’ inability to adapt quickly cost them.

“It’s just [about] how quickly we adapt to the conditions. That really matters as a team,” he said. “Because when you’re playing back-to-back games, as a group, you have to step forward and get used to the conditions… 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.”

Adding to the completely new conditions was the unknown factor of Ireland’s two fast-bowling debutants: India-born left-arm quick Jai Moondra and right-arm pacer Matt Hollard. While Moondra struck with his first ball – he had Sanju Samson chopping on for 5 – Hollard dismissed Ishan Kishan (1) and Shreyas Iyer (3) to leave India at 60 for 3.

While Moondra finished with 2 for 25, including the wicket of Shivam Dube, Hollard ended with 3 for 28 after also dismissing Washington Sundar. On being asked whether India were taken by surprise by Moondra, Abhishek said it was just a case of Ireland’s bowlers being better than India’s on the day.

“We have the same plan for all teams. Our video analysts and coaches have enough information about all the bowlers,” he said. “I wouldn’t say he was a surprise for us, but he bowled really well. The areas that they bowled in as a bowling unit were much better than us. And that’s how you learn as a group. We also got to learn from them today. So it was just one of those games.”

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