Shikhar Dhawan struck a century as defending champions India secured top spot in Pool B by comfortably chasing 260 to beat Ireland by eight wickets in the World Cup clash at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
The opening batsman struck 11 fours and fives sixes in his 100, his second ton in four matches arriving from just 84 deliveries.
Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who made 64, shared an opening stand of 174 and despite the pair departing, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane led their side to a ninth successive World Cup win with 79 balls to spare.
Ireland won the toss and were boosted by half-centuries from Will Porterfield and Niall O’Brien as they were dismissed for 259 in 49 overs, India maintaining their record of taking 10 wickets in all five of their group games so far.
Defeat for fourth-placed Ireland leaves them level on six points with South Africa and their next opponents Pakistan in Pool B, two ahead of West Indies who play United Arab Emirates in their final outing.
Porterfield and Paul Stirling gave Ireland an impressive start, taking 89 off the first 15 overs before the spinners started to make the difference.
Ravichandran Ashwin had Stirling caught at long-off for 42 and Suresh Raina bowled Ed Joyce cheaply.
O’Brien strode to the crease and held the innings together, hitting seven fours and three maximums, with a patient stand of 53 alongside Porterfield followed by an aggressive 61-run partnership with the in-form Andy Balbirnie.
After a Mohit Sharma slower ball accounted for Porterfield on 67, Ashwin had Balbirnie caught on the sweep.
The latter’s dismissal in the 39th over triggered a collapse that saw Ireland lose their last seven wickets, including O’Brien becoming a third scalp for Mohammed Shami for 75, for 53 runs.
Although it was the highest score against India in this World Cup, it was below par as Dhawan and Rohit proved.
The pair both played aggressively but not without luck, Dhawan dropped on five and 10 by John Mooney and Porterfield respectively.
Stuart Thompson, making his first start in this World Cup, bowled Rohit via an inside edge before having Dhawan, whose second fifty came off just 30 deliveries, caught the ball after celebrating his hundred.
With 70 runs still required for victory, Kohli and Rahane struck an unbeaten 44 and 33 respectively to guide their side comfortably home.
Ireland skipper Porterfield, whose side will qualify for the quarter-finals with victory over Pakistan on Sunday, said at the post-match presentation: "No I don't think it (our confidence) can (be dented). There's a lot of good things to take from the game."