Hardik Pandya joined a select band of players who have captained Team India in any form of international cricket as he led the side in the first T20I against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday. While rain forced the match to be curtailed to a 12-overs a side contest, the contest eventually got underway in Malahide and the Indian team under Hardik Pandya powered to a seven-wicket triumph. Hardik Pandya, like he does so often, led from the front as he smashed 24 runs off 12 deliveries besides scalping one Irish wicket. However, it was Yuzvendra Chahal who was the star for India with the ball as he finished with excellent figures of 1/11 in his three overs. Nonetheless, Yuzvendra Chahal credited Hardik Pandya's “chilled” captaincy for his superb show against the Irishmen.

“It's very difficult to bowl in the cold, I felt like a finger spinner. But I had to adapt. The atmosphere under Hardik is chill, he gave me freedom to execute my plans. I'm wearing three sweaters so am not comfortable,” Yuzvendra Chahal said after his Man of the Match performance in Malahide.

Earlier in the match, Harry Tector's quickfire unbeaten 64 powered Ireland to 108/4 in their quota of 12 overs. Other than Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick among the Indian bowlers as he snatched a wicket for 16 runs in his three overs.

Chasing a stiff target of 109 runs, India got off to a flier as Deepak Hooda tore apart the Irish bowlers to hit a whirlwind 47 off only 29 deliveries.

Though India suffered a big blow in the form of Suryakumar Yadav perishing for a duck, Hardik Pandya wasted little time in sealing the deal as the visitors completed a resounding win in 9.2 overs.

“There was swing with the new ball, it got better after 5-6 overs. Thought it would get harder with the moisture but didn't. It's good to bowl Test match line and length, glad it worked out. Umran and other youngsters from around the world have made their debut because of the IPL which is great. We get good support wherever we go,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed after the win.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya was ecstatic to win his first match as India's captain.

“Great to start the series with a win, fortunate we got a game. Important for our team to start with a win. Umran was kept back after I had a chat with him, he's more comfortable with the older ball and they batted fantastically. So hope he gets an opportunity. Some of the shots Harry played had me in awe. Look forward to him developing and taking Irish cricket again,” Hardik Pandya said.

Surprisingly, Hardik Pandya who picked up a wicket in Ireland's innings is the first Indian captain to dismiss an opposition batter in the shortest format of the sport. Before the 28-year-old all-rounder, no Indian skipper has ever taken a wicket in T20Is.

Earlier the likes of Shane Watson and Gary Kirsten had backed Hardik Pandya to be among the probables for Team India's long-term future captain.

“The thing that stood out for me the most was how calm and chilled he was. He was upbeat with everything he did – what he did when he batted, in the field, and when he bowled as well,” Shane Watson said on The ICC Review.

“You could see he really thrived with that leadership opportunity. It was a great opportunity for Hardik to go to a new team, bat at No.4 and show his skill is not just being a power-hitter at the end. But it also showed his captaincy and leadership skills, which he wouldn't have had this year if he was still with the Mumbai Indians.

“It's an incredible opportunity for him and an incredible thing for Indian cricket to know that they have got another leader waiting in the wings if they need someone to step up,” the former Australian all-rounder added.

Gary Kirsten declared that leadership came naturally to Hardik Pandya.

“I've been impressed with Hardik Pandya. Not having known him well earlier, I've got a view on him now that he's this cricketer who just plays instinctively and takes the game on. He engages in a lot of cricket conversations and wants to learn, wants to get better and improve and understand his players,” Gary Kirsten told the Times of India.

“He's a fantastic cricketer but what stands him apart is how keen he is to learn. He is one of those players. And we've seen how leadership has come so naturally to him,” Kirsten added.

“He is an impact-player who can win games for you and to have someone that could do it with bat and ball, especially in a format as short and unpredictable as this one, is special,” the former South Africa legend concluded.