DRS June 27: Shreyas Iyer keeps Sooryavanshi on bench, Hardik Pandya to LSG & Dhruv Jurel shines

Shreyas Iyer endures the worst possible start to his T20I captaincy tenure as Ireland’s cricket team manages to humble India in the opening T20I in Belfast. Despite Harshit Rana’s incredible comeback, India fumbled. The batting particularly did nothing. Although Abhishek Sharma whacked a quick fifty, there wasn’t anything. Idnia didn’t give the debut cap to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi either. Elsewhere, there are Hardik Pandya trade rumours, while Dhruv Jurel just delivered a scintillating knock for India A.

Hardik Pandya-Pooran trade?

Hardik Pandya’s future at Mumbai Indians has become a talking point after reports suggested the franchise could be open to trading their captain ahead of IPL 2027. With Rishabh Pant already moving from Lucknow Super Giants to Delhi Capitals, former India batter Aakash Chopra believes another blockbuster deal isn’t impossible. He suggested a swap involving Pandya and Nicholas Pooran, with Mohsin Khan and Mitchell Santner potentially entering the conversation too. Nothing is official yet, but after disappointing campaigns for both MI and LSG, massive changes ahead of next season wouldn’t come as a surprise. Read more here.

Dhruv Jurel silences critics

Dhruv Jurel has once again made a strong case for a permanent spot in India’s Test setup. Leading India A against Sri Lanka A in Galle, the wicketkeeper-batter produced a composed unbeaten century, finishing on 141 and anchoring the innings when wickets fell around him. The knock just continues Jurel’s impressive record in India A colours, having also scored heavily against South Africa A and Australia A. Jurel’s ability to absorb pressure, bat long and contribute as a quality wicketkeeper makes him a valuable option ahead of the Sri Lanka Test tour. Read more here.

Iyer’s tenure starts at worst way possible

India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad suffered a reality check in Belfast as an injury-hit Ireland pulled off a stunning 34-run victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Chasing 183, India never really got going, with only Abhishek Sharma looking dangerous. Debutants Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard rattled the batting order, while Tilak Varma and Shreyas Iyer failed miserably. India were also guilty of dropping key catches when Ireland were struggling at 51/4, allowing Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany to cash in. Prasidh Krishna’s expensive spell, including a disastrous final over, helped Ireland finish strongly and complete one of the biggest wins in their T20I history. Read more here.

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No Sooryavanshi yet for India

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s wait for an India debut continues. Despite a sensational IPL season and eye-catching performances for India A, the 15-year-old was left out of the playing XI for the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast. India instead backed the players who played key roles in their T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson retaining the opening spots. At the toss, captain Shreyas Iyer labelled Sooryavanshi as a special talent but stressed that his opportunity will come in due course. But after India’s tough loss, Sooryavanshi might get a chance soon. Read more here.

Mohammed Amir update

Mohammad Amir is set for a new chapter in his career after signing with Nottinghamshire for the remainder of the 2026 T20 Blast. Having recently obtained British citizenship, the former Pakistan pacer will be eligible to play as a domestic cricketer and not as an overseas signing. Amir, who retired from international cricket after the 2024 T20 World Cup, brings a wealth of experience with over 400 T20 wickets to his name. The move could also open doors for him in English domestic cricket beyond the Blast, as he looks to rebuild his career away from the Pakistan setup. Read more here.

Ben Stokes joins elite company

Ben Stokes added another milestone to his remarkable Test career by claiming his 250th wicket during the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. The England captain is now only the second player in Test history, after Jacques Kallis, to combine 7,000 runs with 250 wickets. Stokes also played a major role in New Zealand’s collapse, picking up four wickets after the visitors had reached 317/0. On a flat Nottingham pitch, he once again showed why he remains England’s ultimate crisis man with bat and ball. Read more here.

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