India vs Ireland 3rd T20I Highlights: Match abandoned due to rain, IND win series 2-0

"Rohit (Sharma) bhai always backed me when I was playing in the IPL also. I was a bit nervous at the start so he came to me and talked about the game and said always enjoy your game and always feel free whenever you want to talk, you can come anytime to me or text me and I will be there for you anytime. Every time he talked of enjoying the game, so that's what I am doing," - Tilak Varma said in a video shared by BCCI on X, formerly Twitter.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has accumulated 77 runs in the two matches he has played and is currently the top scorer from both camps. He scored 58(43) in the second T20I, which helped him move 143 places up in the T20I rankings and he now finds himself at the 87th position.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, who is not part of the Ireland series, remains on the top spot in the T20I rankings for batters.

It is still raining at the moment and there's no signs of toss. As per the weather forecast, there was 60 percent chances of rainfall. 

Will India make wholesale changes heading into the final encounter? With the Men In Blue leading 2-0 and this match being a dead rubber, there's no harm in giving the bench strength a start. 

If that is the case we can see Jitesh Sharma, Avesh Khan, and Shabaz Ahmed break into the squad, replacing Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar.

Unfortunately it is still drizzling at the moment and the super sopper is at work. The wait for the toss continues.

"Pretty happy being picked for the Asia Cup. Process is same, continuing the process is important. I still want to do better, I've been running in well, but there's more I can do. Trying to get into the groove. Its about being consistent. If I can be consistent in execution, that's where I want to be." - Prasidh Krishna

Former Indian chief selector Sarandeep Singh has some advice for Tilak Varma. 

"Tilak Varma should do one simple thing: go and observe first how the wicket is behaving. Where he made his debut in the West Indies, the conditions were somewhat similar to India and the wicket behaved in a similar manner. There, he could play shots in a certain way. However, now that he is in Ireland, the conditions are different. The wicket is harder, there is grass on it, moisture is present, and there are overcast conditions. The ball moves, and there is more bounce. So, he should take a bit of time, face 15-16 balls, and then start playing his shots," Sarandeep was quoted as saying by ANI. 

There's bad news as toss has been delayed due to rain.

Rinku Singh stamped his authority straightaway. Getting a chance to bat for the first time in the previous encounter, Rinku chipped in with an effective cameo and was named Player of the Match.

Arriving in the middle when India were 105/3 in 12.2 overs, Rinku struggled to find the big hits initially but once he found his mojo it became impossible to stop his carnage. The finisher accumulated 38 runs in 21 balls, which featured two 4s and three 6s and was also named as the Player of the Match.

In fact he along with Shivam Dube had smashed 42 runs in the final two overs. 

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team were glued to the screen as India scripted history by becoming the first nation to land the Indian Space Research Organisation's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the Moon's south pole. 

Jitesh Sharma could also walk into the playing XI in place of Sanju Samson. 

However, Samson will look to hold onto his spot in the XI, looking to build after his 26-ball 40 in the previous encounter. He is a backup player for the Asia Cup and will look to use this opportunity to make his case stronger.

India can bring in either Avesh Khan or Mukesh Kumar in place of Arshdeep Singh. Avesh has been with the team since the West Indies tour but didn't play a single match. If he doesn't get a chance today he will head to Asian Games without a single game.

The management is unlikely to give rest to Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, despite them coming from a long injury layoff. If the duo take the field this will be their third T20I on the trot in five days. 

India head coach for Ireland tour Sitanshu Kotak on Tuesday said they need more game time after making impressive comebacks from back surgeries.

“They were at the NCA for their RTPs (return to play) and strength and all. They are very smart; they never looked like they did not get a game, or were out of practice. They looked ready in practice,” Kotak told the media in the pre-match presser in Dublin.

“It is just that these guys need more game time before the World Cup. They will get three games in this series and (also) a few matches in the Asia Cup,” he added. 

In what may come as a bad news for fans is that rains are predicted to interrupt the proceedings in the third T20I. As per the weather forecast in Dublin, the day is expected to remain mostly cloudy, with 60 percent possibility of rain. 

The temperature is expected to hover around 12-19 degrees Celsius.

Despite featuring only in the T20Is, Tilak Varma has been included in the squad for the Asia Cup, which is a 50-over format tournament. This shows the immense faith the management have in the young prodigy, who had an exceptional IPL 2023. 

In the T20Is too, Tilak has managed to display his potential, leading India's batting in the Caribbean Islands. However, he was dismissed for a golden duck in the series opener, and was packed for one run in the following encounter in Dublin.

He would look to get some runs under his belt before leaving with the seniors to Sri Lanka for the continental tournament.

Jasprit Bumrah and Praisdh Krishna have been right on money despite this being their first series after returning from a long injury layoff.

Both the bowlers have accounted for four wickets each, and have completed their four-over quotas without showing any sign of discomfort.

These are good signs for India especially with the Asia Cup, and ODI World Cup approaching fast.

Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Prasidh Krishna are the four players, who will travel to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup.

Samson is traveling as a backup player, while others are part of the 17-member squad announced by BCCI two days ago.

After the conclusion of the Ireland tour a few members, who are part of the tour will travel to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup 2023, which starts from next week.

India have won both the matches they've played so far. 

The Men In Blue won the first T20I by two runs as per the DLS method, then secured a 33-run victory in the second encounter.

Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the 3rd T20I between India and Ireland at The Village, Dublin. India have a 2-0 lead in the three-match series and will be looking to complete a clean sweep heading into the final T20I. Ireland, on the other hand, play for pride. Stay tuned for all the updates from the match.