India all-rounder Shivam Dube admitted that Ireland batted 'really well' after the hosts posted 182/9 in the opening T20I of the three-match series at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on 26 June, warning that India will need a quality batting display to overhaul the target.

Ireland's Recovery from Early Collapse

India had Ireland in early trouble at 36/3 inside the Power-play, but a composed 50 from captain Lorcan Tucker and an aggressive 49 by Gareth Delany steered the hosts to a competitive total. The middle-order partnership proved decisive in shifting momentum firmly in Ireland's favour.

Dube, who removed Benjamin Calitz with a well-disguised slower delivery, acknowledged the hosts' fight-back. 'Definitely, they batted really well. Amazing batting by all of them. And I think it's a good total. We have to bat really well to achieve this total,' he said at the innings break.

Dube's Bowling Plan on Belfast Surface

The all-rounder bowled a disciplined spell in the middle overs, stressing that conditions demanded a specific approach. 'On these kinds of conditions, you need to bowl on the hard lengths. So that was my plan, you told me I'm a genuine all-rounder, so I have to bowl,' he said with a quip.

His approach reflected a broader India strategy of targeting the corridor outside off-stump on a surface that offered more carry than turn — a departure from the spin-heavy plans India typically deploy in subcontinental conditions.

India's Bowling Effort

Harshit Rana led the attack with impressive figures of 3/24, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel chipped in with two wickets apiece. Despite the collective effort, Ireland's lower-middle order capitalised on the back-end overs to push past 180 — a total that historically proves challenging in Belfast's overcast conditions.

India's Mindset Heading Into the Chase

Dube also reflected on India's broader approach following their recent T20 success, emphasising a forward-looking mindset within the squad. 'For us, it's not important what we have done in the past. As a player, what our coach said to us is, You have to focus on the future. What we have done is past now. We are focusing on what we can do next,' he said.

He added that the team has been enjoying their time in Ireland, having previously played in Dublin. 'It's great. We really enjoy playing in Ireland. We played in Dublin. It was really good. Now we are here... The crowd is amazing. The wicket is good. We are really enjoying this,' Dube noted.

What's at Stake

India need 183 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. A successful chase would set the tone for the remainder of the tour and test India's batting depth against an Ireland attack that has shown it can defend totals at home. The match represents a fresh chapter for both sides, with India keen to build momentum ahead of a busy international calendar.