Prasidh Krishna endured a forgettable return to India’s T20I side as Ireland’s middle order took him apart in the opening T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club on Friday.The fast bowler conceded 27 runs in his fourth over, making it the most expensive over bowled by an Indian against Ireland in T20I cricket. The difficult outing also saw another unwanted record attached to his name, with Prasidh conceding 125 runs across his last two T20I appearances, the most by any bowler in successive T20Is. India had made the perfect start after opting to field first. Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh reduced Ireland to 32/3 by removing Ross Adair, Harry Tector and Tim Tector inside the Powerplay, putting the hosts firmly on the back foot.However, Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany produced an excellent recovery. Tucker anchored the innings with a composed 50 off 36 balls, while Delany counterattacked with a 31-ball 49 to wrest back the momentum.Prasidh’s difficult evening began in the seventh over when Benjamin Calitz launched him for two towering sixes. Although Calitz was dismissed soon after, Ireland saved their biggest assault for the death overs.With Tucker already back in the pavilion, George Dockrell joined Delany to unleash a brutal attack. The pair targeted Prasidh in the 17th over, smashing 27 runs through three sixes and two boundaries, completely shifting the momentum in Ireland’s favour. It turned out to be the most expensive over ever bowled by an Indian against Ireland in T20Is.Dockrell contributed a rapid 19 off just 10 deliveries before Axar Patel ended his cameo, while Delany fell agonisingly short of a deserved half-century when he was dismissed for 49 in the penultimate over.Despite India’s excellent start with the ball, Ireland’s spirited middle-order fightback propelled them to a competitive 182/9 in 20 overs.Harshit Rana was India’s standout performer with figures of 3/24, while Arshdeep Singh (2/28) and Axar Patel (2/33) provided valuable support. But for Prasidh Krishna, it was an outing to forget as his return to T20I cricket ended with two unwanted records.
