Malan says Irish must believe they can shock India

Ireland coach Heinrich Malan says his players must spell into their T20 World Cup opener against India connected 5 June successful New York believing that they tin hit nan star-studded opposition.

Malan, who has just signed a statement extension which will support him successful nan Ireland occupation until nan summertime of 2027, says he's "excited astir playing India" and wants his players to person nan aforesaid mentality.

"When you look astatine T20 cricket you request possibly 1 aliases 2 players to person a typical clip retired and you tin return down immoderate squad successful nan world down," said nan South African native.

To backmost up his argument, Malan tin constituent to his Ireland team's triumph complete eventual tourney winners England astatine nan past T20 World Cup successful Australia 2 years ago.

"India are evidently coming caller disconnected nan IPL and I spot they’ve rested a mates of guys successful their warm-up stuff.

"[But] T20 cricket has shown up complete a adjacent play of clip that if you play a definite measurement and you person nan correct intent and players travel to nan statement connected nan day, that each teams that are going to compete astatine this title are arsenic matched."

India, who were beaten connected location turf by Australia astatine past year's 50-overs World Cup Final, will beryllium captained by Rohit Sharma pinch ex-skipper Virat Kohli still a important constituent of their batting line-up.

Yuzvendra Chahal, nan only bowler to return 200 wickets successful IPL history, is among 4 spinners selected for nan tourney while Rishabh Pant is among nan squad's 2 wicketkeepers immoderate 16 months aft he survived a superior car crash.

With India definite to person immense support successful New York, conscionable arsenic they person wherever they play, Malan is hoping that US-based Irish people will return nan opportunity to cheer connected their squad astatine nan Nassau County Stadium connected Long Island.

"We request everyone location to beryllium honest," added nan Ireland coach.

"It doesn’t matter wherever you play India. We’ve played them astatine location complete nan past mates of years and they get group down them. It will beryllium bully to get immoderate Irish supporters retired location and I’m judge we will.

"Hopefully we tin play immoderate bully cricket complete nan week that we’re location and drawback up pinch them for a brew afterwards."

Malan admits nan tourney is simply a large opportunity for his broadside to summation nan entreaty of a crippled which still remains successful nan number athletics bracket connected nan land of Ireland.

"Hopefully group will move nan telly connected and spot a successful squad and hopefully that will promote group to spell and play a awesome sport.

"We want to effort and activity crossed nan strategy and crossed our pathways truthful we tin effort and get those players upskilled and hopefully play for Ireland successful years to come."

The Irish spell into nan tourney having beaten Pakistan successful nan opening crippled of nan caller T20 bid successful Dublin earlier winning a tri-nations bid successful nan Netherlands against nan hosts and Scotland.

After being appointed arsenic white-ball skipper pursuing Ireland's disappointing nonaccomplishment to suffice for nan past year's World Cup, Paul Stirling will lead nan Irish successful nan USA and nan Caribbean and Malan says he is nan perfect man to return nan squad into battle.

"The experience, nan calmness that Stirlo brings from being connected nan roadworthy truthful overmuch complete nan past 5 years and his expertise to support things really elemental and person a existent consistency successful nan measurement that he communicates [is his awesome attribute]. He is very precise," added Malan.