Bitter-sweet feeling for Hyderabad’s Bobjee as champs India lose T20 series to lowly Ireland

It was a bitter-sweet feeling for MV Narasimha Rao (Bobjee) as the Shreyas Iyer-led India lost the T20I series to Ireland. The Indians suffered their first series defeat in the shortest format in three years after losing 2-0 to Ireland in the two-match series at the Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast on Sunday.

MV Narasimha Rao presents his book to Kiran Khatri, Consul General of India, in Belfast, Ireland 

India’s previous bilateral T20 series defeat in the shortest format was the 3-2 loss to the West Indies in 2023.

For the former India player and Hyderabad captain, it was a day of mixed emotions. On one hand, he was sad that the Indians had lost but on the other hand he was elated that the boys he had coached had humbled the World T20 champions.

Hyderabad flavour: MV Narasimha Rao with Tilak Verma

“It was a bit of a shock that India lost but at the same, I felt proud that many of the Irish players whom I coached from grassroot level were involved in this historic win,” said Bobjee, as he is known in Hyderabad cricket circles.

“I’ve been involved in coaching in Irish cricket from grassroots level to senior team for 30 odd years and beating a mighty Indian team will lift the morale of the players and Irish cricket,” he added.

MV Narasimha Rao with Sanju Samson

Bobjee felt the Indian team didn’t adapt to the conditions as they should have. “Probably the Indian team didn’t have much time for net practice to get used to the conditions here. This aspect was well exploited by the Irish bowlers. The Indians were caught on the wrong foot most of the times as playing the seaming ball does not come naturally to the Indian players,” he said.

Surreal feeling for Bobjee

It was also a surreal moment for the Hyderabad cricketer as he had the wonderful privilege to ring the bell in the second T20 international match in Belfast.  “I was very emotional and overwhelmed about the occasion,” said Bobjee.

MV Narasimha Rao with Gautam Gambhir

The former Indian all-rounder said it was a great honour to be asked to ring the bell in a match which was played by his birth country against his adopted country. “It was surreal as India and Ireland played against each other. I felt so unique. I was emotional when both sides’ players waved at me when I stood in front of the bell,” Bobjee, who had led Hyderabad to their second Ranji Trophy triumph, said.

Hyderabad’s Bobjee to ring the bell at India’s 2nd T20 match against Ireland in Belfast

However, Bobjee was disappointed that teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not picked to play in the series. “I was looking forward to seeing him make his international debut on Irish soil. All the Indian diaspora as well as the Irish cricket fans were disappointed,” he added.

MV Narasimha Rao with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

The senior veteran said he got to meet a few of the Indians and exchanged pleasantries during a reception hosted by the Indian Consul General for the Indian team at Crown Plaza Hotel in Belfast on June 27. The Consul General of India Kiran Khatri was also present at the reception.

“I got the opportunity to present my book Bobby: India and Ireland …. A Love Story to the Indian players,” he said.