Porterfield has one eye on IPL

Ireland's cricketers have nothing to lose but perhaps a fortune to gain in their final World Twenty20 Group A match against champions India.

William Porterfield's team are assured of their Super Eights progression, irrespective of the outcome at Trent Bridge tonight, thanks to their victory over Bangladesh at the same venue on Monday.

That result was hastened by Kevin O'Brien's unbeaten 39 from only 17 balls - and Porterfield concedes the all-rounder could just be one of his team capable of catching the eye of a mega-bucks Indian Premier League franchise, should he give another hint of his talents on the big stage.

'Maybe they are thinking about that; maybe it's in the back of their minds,' Porterfield acknowledged.

'Kevin O'Brien showed what he could do against Bangladesh. He's one player in our team that can clear the ropes. If IPL is in the back of his mind, he did himself no harm.

'It would be great if one of our guys did get signed up.'

While O'Brien may be daring to dream, Porterfield's opposite number Mahendra Singh Dhoni delivered a chastening reality check when invited to compare the Irishman's skills with those of India's own Yuvraj Singh.

'He is a good batsman - that I can say - but all of a sudden comparing him to Yuvraj Singh, there is a big gap in the middle,' said the India captain.

'We all know Yuvraj has proved himself. He is one of the biggest hitters and hits sixes quite consistently.

'He [O'Brien] is a talented cricketer but he is well below Yuvraj when it comes to hitting big sixes in this format.'

Dhoni has had to contend with unwanted distractions over his relationship with Virender Sehwag and the destructive opener's shoulder injury which yesterday finally ruled him out of the tournament.

A gesture of unity and denial of any rift with Sehwag in Dhoni's opening captain's press conference last week was followed yesterday by another bizarre briefing which descended into a shouting match between Indian officials and members of that country's travelling media.

It is all far removed from the preparation Dhoni and co need, but he remains confident his team will not take their eyes off the ball.

'If we play to potential we are a tough side to beat,' he warns. 'But you have to be there throughout and you have to perform at least 80 or 90% of the potential you have.

'The moment you slip down you have seen quite a few close games in the T20 format - and those games can slip in favour of any side.'