Chahal out, Will Samson play?: Will this be India's Playing XI that will face Ireland in IND vs IRE

Team India is all set to open its T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with its first group stage fixture against Ireland on June 5th at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. 

Indian Cricket Team led by Rohit Sharma is coming in to the competition high on confidence after their thumping 60 run victory over Bangladesh in their only warm up game of the tournament. While all of Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav had good outing with the bat for Team India in the warmup game against Bangladesh, it was Sanju Samson who opened the batting and disappointed with only 1 run. 

Heading into the Group A opener, here is the predicted playing XI for Team India for the match against Ireland. 

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Team India Predicted XI against Ireland 

Openers - Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal 

Batters - Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav

Wicket keeper - Rishabh Pant

All rounders - Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja

Bowlers - Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh 

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This is how Team India can potentially lineup for the clash against Ireland. While, Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson did play in the warm up game, it is expected that Kuldeep Yadav will be the front line specialist spinner. Given, Rishabh Pant's form and the left handed batting option he is expected to get the nod ahead of Sanju Samson. 

There is an ongoing debate whether Virat Kohli should open alongside Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup but the slow nature of pitches in the USA and the lack of bounce may tempt Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid to keep Virat Kohli in the anchor role.

In the bowling attack, Arshdeep Singh's versatility with the ball in T20 cricket may get the nod ahead of Mohammed Siraj for the opener. Playing with only four sure short bowling options in Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, Team India will require Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube to pull up their weight with the ball in hand in this World Cup.