T20 World Cup results: Rohit Sharma leads India to victory over Ireland

India’s fearsome pace attack ruthlessly blew away Ireland on a difficult pitch in New York as they started the T20 World Cup with an eight-wicket victory.

Hardik Pandya took 3-27 as Ireland fought back to scramble their way to 96 all out with 24 balls of their innings left unused.

Gareth Delany top-scored for the Irish with an enterprising 14-ball 26 while the near-unplayable Jasprit Bumrah collected a miserly 2-6.

Virat Kohli was dismissed cheaply in India’s chase but fellow opener Rohit Sharma adapted better than any batter so far on the drop-in pitches being used here with an impressive half-century.

India skipper Rohit, who passed 4,000 runs in T20 internationals and 1,000 in World Cups during the match, was particularly eye-catching in striking Josh Little for back-to-back sixes.

Rohit retired hurt on 52 – a shoulder injury the apparent reason – before Rishabh Pant (36 not out) got India over the line.

Pant hit the winning runs with an audacious reverse ramp for six over the wicketkeeper’s head with 46 balls to spare, to the joy of the majority of the 20,604 fans cheering for India inside the ground.

India face Pakistan in a highly-anticipated showdown between the sides in their next match on Sunday, while Ireland will aim to register their first win against Canada on Friday.