On June 5, India began their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a magnificent win over Ireland. The match took place at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl first on a pitch that favored bowlers. Ireland were bowled out for 96, with Gareth Delaney scoring 26 runs. Arshdeep Singh scored 2/35 in 4 overs, Mohammed Siraj 1/13 in 3 overs, Jasprit Bumrah 2/6 in 3 overs, and Hardik Pandya 3/27.
In response, Virat Kohli was dismissed for one in five balls, but Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant scored 54 runs for the second wicket. Rohit Sharma blasted a superb 52 in 37 balls, including three sixes and four fours, before being forced to retire hurt owing to a shoulder injury.
India subsequently lost Suryakumar Yadav while attempting to knock a six, but Rishabh Pant, who came out to bat at number four, remained 34* with three fours and two sixes and hit an ambitious shot for a six to secure India's triumph.
This was Rishabh Pant’s first outing for India since December 2022, when he last played in a Test in Bangladesh. Pant met with a horrific car accident later that month and missed more than 14 months of his career. He suffered multiple injuries including fractures and a serious knee ailment.
He underwent surgery in Mumbai and spent the rest of his time recovering and then rehabbing at the NCA. He made his much-awaited cricketing return in the IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals and impressed everyone with his glove work and batting.
The BCCI selectors were confident of his fitness and named him in the India T20 World Cup 2024 squad and became the first-choice keeper.
Check out his shot here:
