Bengaluru: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s move to field has paid off here at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as Zaheer Khan bowled Paul Stirling in the first over and struck again in the second to send back Ed Joyce.
Joyce, who was unsettled and was in a hurry paid his dues when he guided an inwardly moving delivery from Zaheer to Dhoni’s safe gloves.
The first over could have been more devastating for Ireland if Yusuf Pathan had gone full out on the chance given by Irish skipper William Porterfield in the third ball.
Ireland made one change from the side which shocked England by three wickets at the same venue on Wednesday, bringing in Andrew White in place of Gary Wilson.
India retained the team which tied the last match against England.
Co-hosts India have three points and Ireland two after two matches.
Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Alex Cusack, Niall O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, John Mooney, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Andrew White, Ed Joyce.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel.