Kevin O'Brien was expensive in the game against Zimbabwe, going for 90 runs. And he carries on where he left off as Dhawan plants him over the rope near the backward square-leg boundary. The bowler comes back well, though, with some good line and length to concede just two more runs.

Arjun Thayat: Has BCCI asked India to beat the daylights out of Ireland so they wouldn't dare question the ICC (another the version of BCCI) again?

Irish cricket journalist Ger Siggins: This is the first time Ireland have ever conceded a century opening partnership in World Cups.

Image source, AP

The simple truth is that if you hit a ball on this ground there is a very good chance you'll get a six for your troubles. Dhawan is capitalising on the short boundaries by claiming maximums seemingly at will. He plants Dockrell into the stand over mid-wicket for his third six and the sixth of the innings. The over goes for 10 to make this India's third-highest opening partnership at a World Cup.

Rohit joins Dhawan with his half-century, brought up by a booming lofted drive over extra cover for six. India are walking this. These two have barely broken sweat.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Growing the game is important - we have 10 sides throughout the entire world, and maybe Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the West Indies have not looked great in recent times. Ten becomes seven and that is not enough - we need to grow the game, bring the sides below that seven into the set up."

Ireland have had a quick regroup during a drinks break. What ideas they might have come up with to try and break this partnership is anyone's guess? Porterfield sticks with Cusack, who Dhawan tries to ramp over Wilson first ball but plants the ball straight into the keeper's helmet. Thankfully, he is OK (barring a quick rearranging of his lid) and the rest of the over goes for four untroubled singles.

Kalika Mehta
BBC Sport in Hamilton

Image source, AP

"The India fans surrounding the longest boundary have not stopped cheering, whistling, drumming and generally creating a lot of noise for the past hour and Dhawan and Sharma are rewarding them by launching the ball in their direction.

"A burst of Eddy Grant's 'Electric Avenue' is played over the Tannoy. There isn't an Electric Avenue in Hamilton but there are a fair few Irish pubs where a lot of the Irish crowd are making plans to head to after the match. They're up for a party no matter the result."

India 121-0 from 17 overs (target 260)

Batsmen: Rohit 46 from 45, Dhawan 61 from 57

Bowling figures: Mooney 4-0-28-0, Cusack 5-0-19-0, Thompson 1-0-18-0, Dockrell 3-0-24-0, Stirling 4-0-27-0

Ireland 259 (49 overs): N O'Brien 75, Porterfield 67, Shami 3-41

Ireland won toss

Scorecard

Listen to Test Match Special commentary

Dhawan clips Dockrell into the leg side for a single and as easy as that Dhawan has a half-century, from 54 balls. He celebrates later in the over with a big hit over wide mid-on for six and then a flick down to fine leg for four. It is difficult to see where a wicket is coming from here.

Cusack returns but the Indian openers' untroubled run-accumulation continues courtesy of three singles and a leg-bye. There is a feeling of resignation about the Ireland display now. They could really do with a wicket to lift their spirits.

Image source, AP

A single off Stirling's first ball brings up the 100 partnership, at a run-rate of just over seven an over. And the singles keep coming. With every one Ireland will further regret those dropped early catches.

These two are starting to take the mickey now. Dhawan stabs a sweep shot through backward point for four and then, later in the over, cuts another boundary. In between, a loose ball from Dockrell beats bat and keeper and runs away for four byes.

The India batsmen are utterly untroubled at the moment. They are picking up singles with the minimum of fuss and taking any lose ball to the cleaners. Rohit rocks back to cut a short, wide one from Stirling through backward point for four.

Dockrell's second over is better than his first, again due to a fuller length. He concedes two runs from his first ball - through a Sharma dab to third man - but goes for just two more from the other five balls. Unfortunately for Ireland, they need much more than tight overs.

Another bowling change sees more spin, courtesy of Paul Sterling. He brings a big improvement on the previous over, pitching the ball must fuller to keep India to just the one run. He also chances an lbw appeal as Dhawan looks to reverse-sweep but the umpire is quick to turn him down.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"These boundaries are short so you've got be on the money against batsmen of this class. The minute Dockrell dropped the ball short Rohit Sharma pounced. You just sense India are going to cruise away with this by playing sensibly and hitting the bad ball to the boundary."

Porterfield does make a decision, by bringing Dockrell's spin into play. It doesn't halt India's momentum, though, as Rohit smashes a short ball over the mid-wicket boundary for six. Too short. This has been Ireland's major failing with the ball so far. A subsequent single takes Rohit to 4,000 ODI runs - the 14th Indian player to reach this figure. This has been some of the easiest 33 runs he has ever scored.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a big match for a 24-year-old to come in against the current world champions. India are going along nicely and will look to target someone like him and put the pressure on him. It will be a measure of him to see how he comes back. He needs to get the ball up a bit fuller."

David in Spain: Don't like to say so at this early stage, but two points to India, I think. Can't see it any other way, unless the "cricket's a funny old game" cliche comes home to roost.