When Ireland nearly scripted a giant-killing: Reliving the 2022 thriller

Long before the current buzz surrounding the ind vs irl series, a 2022 clash in Dublin proved that the Irish side could push the Men in Blue to the absolute brink.

Cricket often celebrates the David versus Goliath narrative, but rarely does it come as close to a reversal as it did on June 28, 2022. As the Indian team prepares for its latest assignments in Ireland, the memory of that high-scoring T20 thriller remains the primary point of reference for fans. Despite posting a formidable 225-run target, India found itself defending a razor-thin margin, clinging to a four-run victory on the final ball of the match.

The match, played under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, was a rollercoaster of power-hitting. India’s innings was anchored by a spectacular century from Deepak Hooda (104) and a brisk 77 from Sanju Samson. With such a massive total on the board, the game seemed all but decided. Yet, the Irish response was nothing short of defiant. From Paul Stirling’s explosive start to the late-order heroics of George Dockrell and Mark Adair, the home side kept the required run rate within reach until the very last delivery.

Why it matters

This encounter serves as a crucial reminder that the gap between established cricketing powerhouses and emerging nations is narrowing rapidly. For the Indian management, matches like these underscore the volatility of the T20 format, where a single momentum shift can destabilize even the most experienced lineups. While India eventually swept that 2022 series 0-2, the close nature of the victory highlighted the resilience of the Irish setup when playing on home soil.

A shift in leadership

As the current squad arrives in Ireland for a fresh series under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the 2022 precedent looms large. For Iyer, this tour marks a significant career milestone—his debut as a T20 captain. The pressure of leading an Indian side, even against a perceived weaker opponent, is amplified by the expectation of dominance. If the 2022 "near-miss" taught the selectors anything, it is that complacency is a luxury no touring captain can afford.

The Irish performance that day was a masterclass in aggressive cricket. Despite facing a world-class bowling attack featuring Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umran Malik, the Irish batters refused to surrender. They pushed the game into the final over, turning what should have been a routine win for India into a high-stakes tactical battle. It remains an essential chapter in the history of ind vs irl encounters, proving that statistics often struggle to capture the true intensity of the contest on the field.