1. Ajinkya Rahane
Indian team has been often been caught napping at many occasions that have resulted in shameful batting collapses in ODI matches. The middle-order batsman will be more than handy as playing in swinging conditions in Hamilton will be a huge task for Indian team. There’s a popular saying going around which reads, ‘If all else fails, there’s Rahane’.
2. MS Dhoni
The captain cool is the cog of the wheel for the Indian team this World Cup and has played to the role with ample responsibility so far. His composed innings against South Africa and attacking captaincy against West Indies show the standards the senior player has set for himself in this tournament. MS Dhoni might surprise us with a change in the playing XI- that has been Dhoni’s forte all his captaincy regime.
3. Mohammad Shami
“If I had to choose the best bowler in the Indian line-up currently, it’ll be Mohammad Shami,” said Pakistani legendary fast bowler Aaquib Jaaved. And rightly so, Shami is the best bet for MS Dhoni to look after if the situation in the middle goes awry. Rediscovering his form at the right time, Shami will be a threat to the Irish Batsmen who looked vulnerable against quality pace bowling in their previous encounters.
4. Kevin O’Brien
The stocky, red-haired Irish batsman is a household name in India after his heroics against England in World Cup 2011. The man single-handedly chased down the mammoth target set by the Poms to win the match. As far as batting is concerned, Kevin O’Brien is to Ireland, what Dhoni is to India. O’Brien’s batting form will be a major concern if the batsman is let-off early. So far in the tournament, O’Brien has failed to live up to its expectations, but it was the same in 2011. Will Seddon Park see the repeat of Bangalore’s heroics in 2011 again?
5. Ed Joyce
The man-in-form for Ireland is Ed Joyce. The right-handed batsman will be a major threat to India’s winning streak in the tournament. One of the most experienced batsmen in the Irish dressing room. India’s bowling will have a task cut out for them on March 10. Recently, Joyce hit his third century in a winning cause against Zimbabwe. The one batsmen MS Dhoni’s men will have to look after in the Ireland camp will be Ed Joyce.
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