A clinical display from India as they crush Ireland by 76 runs in the first game of the two-match T20 International series.

Put into bat, India raked up a huge 208 for five in their 20 overs.
Peter Chase provided some cheer to the Irish camp with three wickets in the final over, that of Rohit, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (11) and Virat Kohli (0) but it proved to be too late in the day for the hosts.

Spinners Kuldeep and Chahal then destroyed the Ireland batting in the middle orders as they picked up seven wickets between them.

Kuldeep picked up career-best figures of four for 21, while Chahal bagged three for 38 and fast bowler Bumrah bagged two for 19.

Pandya finishes his spell with a tight over, conceding just three runs, to finish with no wickets for 36 runs in his four overs.

Bumrah comes back and he strikes with his first delivery. Dockrell is beaten all ends up and is bowled by a full delivery for nine.

Peter Chase watchfully defends the remaining five deliveries as Bumrah sends down a wicket maiden.

Bhuvneshwar comes back as he starts with three dot balls to Rankin, followed by three singles as the India pacer finishes with tidy figures of 16 runs from his four overs.

Bumrah to bowl the final over of the innings. He gives away just three runs as Ireland finish on 132 for nine in their 20 overs, to lose the match by 76 runs.

Kuldeep goes for eight runs in his third over as Ireland cross the 100-run mark, in the 14th over.

Pandya comes back and continues to go for runs. Five runs from four balls before Thompson punches the fifth ball through the covers for a four followed by a single to deep square leg for one.

Kuldeep strikes again in his final over. Thompson goes for the big shot but is caught by Pandya at long-on for 12.

Dockrell gets it right off the next delivery as he smashes it high over the straight boundary for a six followed by one to point.

Poynter sweeps the fourth ball to deep midwicket for two runs but is dismissed off the next delivery.

Poynter is foxed completely by the googly from the chinaman spinner which spins away from the right-hander to bowl him for seven.

Kuldeep finishes with career-best figures of four for 21 as Ireland slip to 123 for eight after 16 overs.

Shannon uses the slog sweep to good effect yet again, smashing Chahal over midwicket for another six as the leggie goes for 11 runs in the 11th over.

Kuldeep strikes again in his second over. Shannon is beaten all ends up to be dismissed leg before wicket after a quickfire 60 from 35 balls, having hit four sixes and five fours. He went for the lap sweep but missed the line completely and was trapped right in front.

Ireland in trouble on 88 for four in 12 overs, needing 121 from eight overs for victory.

Shannon goes after Chahal yet again and over his favourite area, the midwicket as he slog sweeps the leggie for his third six.

He clips the next ball to deep midwicket for two runs to race to his fifty, from just 29 balls.

An expensive over from Chahal as he gives away 10 runs with Ireland looking to make a comeback after a difficult start.

Left-arm chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack. He starts with two dot balls to Simi Singh before the right-hander gets a leading edge and is caught in the covers for seven.

Gary Wilson plays out the remaining three deliveries as Kuldeep starts with a wicket maiden.

At the halfway stage, Ireland reach 73 for three in 10 overs, needing 136 runs from the remaining 10 overs for victory.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack at the end of Powerplay. He strikes in his very first over with the wicket of Bilbirnie, who comes down the track but is beaten all ends up and wicketkeeper Dhoni completes an easy stumping.

Simi Singh gets off the mark with a single before Shannon slog sweeps the leggie for a six over midwicket.

Chahal then has a huge appeal for leg before wicket turned down off the last ball.

Pandya misses his line as Shannon glances him fine for a four before he takes one and Simi slashes the last ball for another four.

10 from the over as Pandya has conceded 23 runs from his first two overs.

Shannon mishits the intended lofted shot as Bhuvneshwar beats him with the slower ball but Chahal at square leg is unable to judge a high catch as he lets go of an easy opportunity.

A single to Shannon as Bhuvneshwar concedes just four runs in his second over.

In the next over, Shannon gets a thick inside edge off Bumrah as it beats the fielder at short fine leg for a four.

Rohit puts down a simple chance as Shannon slices Bumrah close on the leg side attempting another big shot as another opportunity goes down for the Indians.

Ireland are struggling, having scored one for four 24 in four overs.

Hardik Pandya comes into the attack in place of Bhuvneshwar, who bowled a tidy first spell of two overs for six runs.

Andy Balbirnie pulls a short ball from Pandya confidently through square leg for a four.

Shannon lofts the last ball over midwicket for the first six of Ireland's innings as Pandya concedes 13 in his first over.

Change of ends for Bhuvneshwar as he replaces Bumrah. Bilbirnie attempts the paddle scoop but misses and is hit on the neck. Three singles before Shannon slaps a wide half-volley through the off-side for a four.

Ireland have recovered well after an early wicket to reach 44 for one in six overs with Shannon hitting 31 from 21 balls.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar opens the bowling for India. Paul Stirling gets Ireland off the mark as he gets a single to thirdman before Jamesh Shannon gets a leading edge which just about evades Hardik Pandya for two runs followed by a leg bye.

Stirling attempts a paddle sweep off the last ball but fails to make proper connection.

Jasprit Bumrah to bowl from the other end. He strikes in his first over as Stirling goes for the pull shot but gets a top edge and is caught by Kuldeep Yadav at mid-off.

Bumrah nearly bags another one as Shannon is beaten by a full inswinger but the leg before appeal is turned down courtesy of an inside edge.

Bumrah drops short as Shannon pulls it confidently over midwicket for a four followed by another boundary through thirdman to get 10 runs from the over.

Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma slammed quickfire half-centuries to power India to a huge 208 for five against Ireland in the first T20 International.

Dhawan smashed an entertaining 74 from 45 balls, while Rohit hammered 97 from 61 balls as the openers laid the foundation with their blazing opening stand of 160 runs from just 96 balls.

Peter Chase provided some cheer to the Irish camp with three wickets in the final over, that of Rohit, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (11) and Virat Kohli (0) but it proved to be too late in the day for the hosts.

Chase to bowl the final over. Rohit goes hard at the first ball but fails to find the gap as it falls short of the fielder at mid-off for just a single.

Dhoni swings the next ball but hasn't timed it too well as he is caught at deep midwicket for 11.

The Indian fans will be left disappointed as Kohli still doesn't come out to bat with Hardik Pandya coming in at No. 5.

Chase strikes again, this time with the key wicket of Rohit, who attempts a big shot but misses it completely and is bowled for a splendid innings of 97 from 61 balls, laced with five sixes and eight fours.

Captain Kohli finally walks out and he is facing the hat-trick ball.

Chase bowls a quick short ball which goes down the leg side as Kohli goes for the pull but is beaten.

Kohli falls for a duck as he hits Chase straight into the hands of Thompson at deep midwicket.

A dream over for Chase, who has claimed three big wickets in the space of four balls including Rohit, Dhoni and Kohli.

Hardik Pandya ends the Indian innings in style as he plays the helicopter shot for a straight six as the visitors finish on 208 for five in 20 overs.

Rankin, who has one over in hand, comes back into the attack. Rohit cuts the first ball powerfully but only for a single to deep point.

Dhoni gets off the mark in style, pulling a short ball behind square on the leg side for a four.

A single to Dhoni to short thirdman before Rohit also picks one to take his score to 96.

A rare dot ball as Dhoni plays it back to the bowler before he smashes the last ball of the over for a six as India cross the 200-run mark, in the 19th over.

Suresh Raina gets a promotion to No. 3. He wastes no time as he steers the first ball he faces, from Thompson past point for a four and then slaps the next through the covers for another boundary.

Raina then is disappointed as he misses out on an easy wide full toss.

A single to Raina before Rohit comes down the track and sweeps the fast bowler through square leg for a four before he takes one to long-on to get 14 runs from the over.

Fast bowler Chase comes into the attack. Rohit looks to blast the first ball but gets an inside edge on the leg side for one followed by a wide before Rain takes a single to long-on.

Rohit takes full toll of an overpitched delivery smashing it straight back over the bowler's head for a six to take his score into the 90s.

A single to Rohit before Chase bowls two wides in a row to Raina. However, the pacer gets some cheer back in the Ireland with the wicket of Raina, who mishits the pull shot and is caught by Kevin O'Brien for 10.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni comes in at No. 4 as captain Virat Kohli holds himself back.

After a good first over, Stirling is taken for runs in his second. After giving away three singles in his first four balls, Rohit hits the off-spinner for back to back fours, through the off-side.

Spinner Dockrell comes into the attack from the other end. He chips down the track and swings the left-arm spinner over midwicket for a six. He then tries the switch hit but fails to make proper connection and gets just a single.

Rohit makes proper connection as he heaves Dockrell over midwicket region for the second six of the over, which goes for 15 runs.

O'Brien comes back as Dhawan gets a leading edge off a full toss but it goes straight over the bowler's head for a four followed by a single.

Rohit (75 from 49 balls) miscues the third ball but Thompson at long-on fails to hold on to a catch running in from the deep. He backs away to the next ball before he somehow manages to steer it over short thirdman for a four.

Ireland finally strike as Dhawan is caught at long-off as he attempts another big hit down the ground.

Thompson takes a good catch rushing forward as Dhawan walks back after a cracking innings of 74 from 45 balls, hitting five sixes and as many fours.

Dhawan laid the foundation for India's huge score as he put on 160 runs from just 96 balls for the opening wicket with Rohit, who has smashed his way to 80 from 51 balls.

Dhawan chips down and swings Dockrell over midwicket for a six to bring up his fifty in grand style, from just 27 balls.

He attempts to reverse sweep Dockrell but can't beat the fielder at point before he beats the fielder at short fine leg for a four.

A couple of singles as India race past the 100-run mark, in the 11th over.

Off-spinner Paul Stirling comes into the attack. He makes a tidy start, conceding five runs in his first over.

O'Brien comes back from the other end. Rohit picks a single to the covers to complete his half-century from 39 balls and two balls later swings the medium pacer over the leg side for a six.

India are set for a huge total as they race to 122 for no loss in 13 overs.

Spin introduced as left-arm spinner George Dockrell comes into the attack, to bowl the seventh over.

The two India openers avoid trying anything fancy and easily pick up six singles in the spinner's first over.

A big moment for India-born Ireland off-spinner Simi Singh, who is called into the attack to bowl the eighth over.

Three singles from the first three balls before Rohit gives the spinner the charge and swings him over midwicket for a six followed by one.

Dhawan attempts to slog sweep the last ball and gets a top edge but it goes over the wicketkeeper for two runs to get 12 from the over.

Dockrell continues as three singles come from the first five balls before Dhawan cuts the last ball for a four.

Rankin comes back for his third spell. Rohit smashes the fourth ball into the stands over long-off for a six as India's assault continues.

10 runs from the over as India race to 94 for no loss in 10 overs with Dhawan on 44 from 26 balls and Rohit on 45 from 34 balls.

Change of ends for Rankin as Rohit joins the party. The right-hander launches the second ball over the off-side for a four and three balls later clips one on the pads fine on the leg side for another boundary before keeping strike with one from the last ball.

Medium pacer Kevin O'Brien comes into the attack. Dhawan continues his rampaging start as he again chips down and smashes it over long-off for a six.

In the same over, Rohit slaps a short wide delivery through the off-side for a four before taking one from the last ball as India race past the 50-run mark, after five overs.

Pacer Chase comes back into the attack. Dhawan comes down the track again but Chase bowls a quick bouncer and hits the India opener on the helmet as he misses the pull.

Dhawan miscues a slower ball as Simi Singh makes a good effort running back on the off-side but is unable to reach the ball.

Dhawan again comes down and launches the fast bowler for a straight six as India race to 59 for no loss in six overs, with Dhawan on 30 from 15 balls and Rohit on 24 from 21 balls.

Just one over for Rankin with the new ball as Stuart Thompson is called into the attack.

Dhawan nearly lobs the first ball back to the bowler as it falls just short. Dhawan finally decides to break the shackles after a slow start. He chips down the track and lofts the next ball straight down the ground for a four before taking a single.

A wide down the leg side to Rohit before he takes a single. Dhawan takes on the medium pacer yet again as he heaves the fifth ball over the leg side for the first six of the match.

Dhoni continues his assault as he walks across the stumps to the last ball before flicking it past short fine leg for a four.

17 runs from the over as India race to 28 for no loss in three overs.

The tall Boyd Rankin to open the bowling for Ireland. Rohit Sharma defends the first two balls before he flicks the third to deep square leg for a single to get off the mark.

Shikhar Dhawan plays a nice cover drive first up but the fielder does well to save some runs before the left-hander blocks the last two balls to end a good first over from Rankin.

Peter Chase to bowl the second over. He starts with a low full toss which is clipped through midwicket for two runs by Rohit. The pacer then bowls one wide down the leg side as Rohit misses the glance but it nicks the pads and goes fine for four leg byes.

Two balls later, Rohit flicks it behind square for a four as 10 runs come from the second over.

Ireland captain Gary Wilson has won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the first T20 International.

"It is a good wicket, it is a very difficult ground to defend," says Wilson explaining his decision to put India into bat.

"I am completely fit now. I was 70 percent around a month ago but I am completely fit now," said Virat Kohli, giving details about his fitness status.

Welcome to the coverage of the first T20 International between India and Ireland in Dublin, on Wednesday.

The Virat Kohli-led India would do well not to let the guard down when they take on a lowly but effervescent Ireland in the two-match T20 International series.

Since the tour of South Africa, this is the first time a full-strength Indian team will be seen in action.

Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were rested for the T20 tri-series in Sri Lanka in March. The former trio also missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Bengaluru recently.

With Rahul in contention for a starting spot in the middle order, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik will be left jostling for two spots.

As part of the full-strength Indian side, the three had featured in the T20 series against South Africa. Raina had been used as a pinch-hitting, aggressive number three option, but the current situation might warrant a re-think.

Nevertheless, Raina provides a sixth bowling option as well. India would also not want to drop Dinesh Karthik, who is in sizzling form since March.

It could mean that Pandey eventually warms the bench, despite scoring 255 runs in eight T20Is this year against South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at an average of 85.

On the bowling front, Kohli will be tempted to field both leg-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, giving them an early taste of conditions in United Kingdom.

However, the pace department is an area of concern, as the second-choice fast bowlers have not enjoyed enough game time.

Since the 2017 Champions Trophy, India have played 32 ODIs and 18 T20Is, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah handling the new ball in 26 ODIs and 9 T20Is, respectively.

Umesh Yadav last played an ODI in September 2017 against Australia at Bengaluru. Siddharth Kaul was in the Indian squad for the home ODIs against Sri Lanka in December, but was not picked ahead of Kumar-Bumrah.

Kaul is also yet to make his T20I debut, while Yadav played his only T20I back in 2012. It remains to be seen if the think tank will bench either Kumar or Bumrah against Ireland to give other pacers some much needed overs.

India and Ireland do not have a rich playing history. Despite touring England in 2011 and 2014, this is the Men in Blue's first visit here since 2007 when they played a solitary ODI at Belfast.

Overall, India and Ireland have played only four times, in three ODIs (the other two during 2011 and 2015 ODI World Cups) and a T20I in 2009 during the World T20 in England.