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Ireland's Tucker: "Start Tournament Hot" vs Sri Lanka in T20 WC Opener

Ireland wicket-keeper batter Lorcan Tucker emphasized the need for his team to start their T20 World Cup campaign strongly, especially with early matches against group heavyweights Sri Lanka and Australia. He stated the team cannot afford to be complacent and must perform well from the opening game. Tucker expressed confidence in the squad's preparation following a productive two-week training camp in Dubai, which included five matches against Italy. He also praised the conditions at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium ahead of their Sunday opener against co-hosts Sri Lanka.

Key Points: Ireland's Tucker on T20 WC Opener: "Start Tournament Hot"

  • Must start strong vs big teams
  • Group B includes Sri Lanka & Australia
  • Prepared with UAE training camp
  • Premadasa pitch in great condition
  • Focus on winning early games
2 min read

"We've to start the tournament pretty hot": Ireland's Lorcan Tucker ahead of T20 WC campaign-opener against Sri Lanka

Ireland's Lorcan Tucker says team must start T20 World Cup strong against Sri Lanka. Read his pre-match comments on preparation and Group B challenge.

"We know we have to show up tomorrow and play well - Lorcan Tucker"

Colombo, February 8

Ireland wicket-keeper batter Lorcan Tucker said that the team will have to start the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a high and that they can not be complacent, ahead of their first clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Ireland, who are slotted into Group B with Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe, will play their first match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Lorcan Tucker noted that the Group they are placed in includes two major teams, Sri Lanka and Australia, and that Ireland will have to play well right from the start.

"I think we know that we have to start the tournament pretty hot. We've got two big games against the two big teams in our group straight away, so I suppose we can't take any liberties in that sense. We know we have to show up tomorrow and play well and hopefully win one of these first two games," he said.

Lorcan further mentioned the team feels well prepared after two strong weeks in Dubai, including five matches against Italy. He praised the facilities, stating that the Premadasa pitch looks in great condition, and added that the squad is excited for the match.

"(On Ireland's training ahead of the T20 WC) I think pretty well. We had two good weeks in Dubai before this, I think leading into it, so we feel like we've had enough cricket. We had five games against Italy in the UAE. We've had a nice week here, I think the weather's been a bit mixed. We've noticed there's been a fair bit of rain around, but I think we've still been able to get a lot of work done. The facilities have been very good, so we've been fortunate in that sense. First day at the Premadasa here, the ground looks in great shape, so I think everyone's pretty excited for tomorrow," he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan, I love watching the associate nations compete. Ireland has a great spirit. Tucker seems level-headed. Their preparation against Italy might not be enough for the big boys, but you never know in T20!
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Ananya R
Respect for the mindset. In a tournament like this, every match is crucial. But honestly, playing 5 games against Italy is not the same intensity as facing SL or AUS. They need a miracle to top this group. Best of luck to them anyway!
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Vikram M
The real challenge is the Colombo weather! Premadasa is a great ground. Hope we get a full game. Ireland can be a tricky team on their day. Let's see if they can pull off an upset against the co-hosts.
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Karthik V
Tucker is right, they can't afford a slow start. But let's be real, their path to the next round is very tough. The focus should be on beating Oman and Zimbabwe first to build some momentum. One step at a time.
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Michael C
Good, pragmatic approach from the Irish camp. No complacency. That's how you compete. The World Cup is better when these smaller teams come prepared and fearless. Looking forward to the match.

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