New Delhi: A T20I series against Ireland would typically not be significant for Indian cricket. Despite being a Test-playing nation, the Emerald Isle has not yet qualified for the upcoming 50-over World Cup. Their recent fortunes in the shortest format have also not been particularly noteworthy.

The three-match series in Dublin in the second half of August, however, takes on added significance because it signifies Jasprit Bumrah's return to competitive cricket following a protracted injury layoff. After having back surgery, the speedster has been recovering.

The stress reaction in his lower back could have been career-threatening, but with the World Cup starting in a little over two months, it appears that Bumrah will be eased back into top-level cricket.

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For the games on August 18, 20 and 23, he will be in charge of a 15-person team. India's regular captain Rohit Sharma was unable to play in the rescheduled Test match against England in Birmingham last year, so Bumrah took the helm.

To tie the series at 2-2, the home team triumphed. When the pace spearhead was prematurely brought back from injury in September 2022 with an eye toward the T20 World Cup in Australia, it is clear that he was playing for the national team at that time.

After the series in Ireland, a 50-over Asia Cup will be played before the World Cup, and an ODI series against Australia will be played at home before the biggest cricketing event of the year. The selectors and team management will be cautious about increasing his workload too quickly in light of recent failures, and they'd rather see how he performs during four-over stints before asking him to bowl 10 overs in a game.

NEWS ????- @Jaspritbumrah93 to lead #TeamIndia for Ireland T20Is.

Team - Jasprit Bumrah (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep…

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 31, 2023

It will be good news for the hosts that Bumrah is making a comeback in time for the World Cup because his pace and skill could be the difference-maker on Indian pitches, which aren't typically too favorable for faster bowlers. India will play the other top teams at a majority of locations that are known to favor spin more.

The three matches are important, but what will be watched with interest is how Bumrah performs in his comeback series.

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Sanju Samson, Prasidh Krishna, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are among the members of the team traveling to Ireland. The wise men of Indian cricket have been impressed by the left-handed Jaiswal's temperament as he has made a splashy entry into the Test team. He might have a remote chance of making the World Cup roster.

Samson has had numerous opportunities to establish himself but hasn't succeeded, and lately Ishan Kishan has surpassed him. He will have another opportunity to shine in the Ireland series.

Krishna has already played 14 ODIs for India, taking 25 wickets, and is well-liked by important people. However, the 27-year-old has a spotty fitness history and has only appeared in 11 first-class matches throughout his career so far.

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