Minnows Ireland create history, give a reality check to rusty T20 World Cup champions with 34-run thrashing

Ireland's 19-year-long wait is over. They have registered their first victory over India in any format. With the world champion batting line-up faltering, Ireland sniffed a chance and delivered the knockout blow, thanks to their spinner Matthew Hollard (3/28). India's bowling attack seemed in control in the powerplay with Harshit Rana bowling an excellent spell. But Prasidh Krishna (0/57) and Washington Sundar (0/19 in 1 over) let Ireland come back. India's batting looked rusty and devoid of practice. Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan all flopped, while Tilak Varma seemed yet to recover from his ODI stint in Sri Lanka. In the end, India were bowled out for 148, losing by 34 runs. Ireland take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Harshit Rana departs and India are 9 down. He just survived in the last over, but not anymore. Matthew Humphreys bags his 2nd wicket as Rana skied another chance under the scoreboard pressure. This time, Ben Calitz made no mistake.

Harshit Rana was almost walking back to the pavilion after Jai Moondra created a chance. Rana skied the delivery to the long on with Harry Tector under the ball. But he dropped the sitter.

Axar Patel departs and so does India's hope. He was the last recognised batter, but with the scorecard pressure on, he tried to slog a Gareth Delany googly, only to mishit and give away a catch to Tim Tector. Ireland are inching closer to a win as India lose their 8th wicket.

Excellent 16th over by debutant Jai Moondra. He concedes just 6 runs and gets the big wicket of Shivam Dube. It was the softest of dismissals as Dube was caught in two minds and gave away a dolly in Moondra's follow-through for 25. India need 48 runs more off 24 balls with Axar Patel and Harshit Rana on the crease.

Last five overs and that's where India need to push, and push harder to get 54 off 30 at 10.8 run rate. Axar Patel and Shivam Dube are two capable batters and the target is not an impossible task. The 15th over produced 14 runs with Shivam Dube hitting Matthew Humphreys for a six to finish the over. 

Hollard strikes again and Ireland could sense a historic win!

Hollard dug in a short ball outside off that got big on Washington Sundar. Sundar went for the pull but the bat face turned on impact. The ball went high off the splice and deep mid-wicket was the only destination. Benjamin Calitz settled under it and pouched it safely in his bucket hands.

Sundar fell for 9 off 12. That was Hollard’s third wicket, with the short ball once again doing the damage for Ireland. With half the Indian side gone, Ireland eyed a famous upset — but they still needed Shivam Dube’s wicket to break India.

IND need 68 runs in 6 overs remaining. 

HISTORY ON CARDS - India 6 down, What an incredible performance by Ireland 🫡 pic.twitter.com/2V9jHgHPYy

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 26, 2026

Oh no! Tilak Varma falls as well, and India lose five. Ireland are cock-a-hoop. First captain and now VC falter as well as India are staring down the barrel of a gun. 

Varma tried to be cheeky with a reverse sweep, but left-arm spinner Humphreys dropped it short on middle and leg. That forced Tilak to drag the shot from a tough position. He can’t control it and got it off the thick inside half of the bat. It flied straight to backward point where Ross Adair took a simple catch.

Tilak goes for 19 off 21 with 3 fours. Humphreys strikes and India are in trouble. Shivam Dube walks in at number seven and takes a boundary off his third ball. 

IND need 87 with 9 overs and five wickets in hand.

Abhishek reaches fifty in style, then falls straight after!

A killing blow for India as they lose Abhishek in untimely fashion. He brought up his fifty off just 20 balls with a pull to deep mid-wicket, turning down the second and raising a thumbs-up to a standing ovation from the dressing room.

That was his fifth T20I fifty in 20 balls or fewer — a record for a Full Member player. But the joy’s short-lived.

Stranded at the non-striker’s end for a bit, his rhythm looks off. Next ball from McCarthy, he pulls again but without conviction. The bat face turns on impact, he gets it off the inside half, and it flies flat to deep mid-wicket. Humphreys took the catch. Abhishek departs for a blazing 50 off 20, with 7 fours and 2 sixes. McCarthy gets his maiden T20I wicket. Washington Sundar the new batter in to join Tilak.

ABHISHEK SHARMA MADNESS 🔥

Number 1 T20 Batter is here, fifty from just 19 balls, he is literally ruling the shorter format, What a phenomenal innings in the run chase. pic.twitter.com/NpiKYiUlMk

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 26, 2026

Another one bites the dust! Hollard picks up his second as Shreyas Iyer fails on his T20I captaincy debut!

Hollard delivers a full ball on the off stump, but Iyer shuffles way across to the off side, looking to whip it leg side off the pads. Iyer wanted to connect one over the boundary ropes but he didn't time it. Iyer hits it flat straight to deep square leg. Dockrell’s waiting there and takes a simple catch. Iyer goes for 3 off 7. Hollard’s on fire with 2 wickets already.

Tilak Varma, the vice-captain, comes to bat at five. 

Shreyas Iyer got out on 3 (6) on his Captaincy Debut pic.twitter.com/h757OBqf7X

— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) June 26, 2026

Just like Samson, Ishan Kishan has failed to make a mark. If Jai Moondra took a wicket off his first international ball, Matthew Hollard has done it in his second ball. He bowls a leg-stump length ball tempting the flick. Kishan goes for a whip off the pads but gets a thick leading edge. It swirls high behind the stumps and Tucker runs around to take a fine catch. Kishan falls for 1 off 5.

Meanwhile, Abhisek Sharma looks extremely dangerous. He is taking a full monty here in Belfast. After two sixes in the first two overs, the southpaw toyed pacer Liam McCarthy for 21 runs off an over. He moves to 46 off 15, about to reach his fifty in quick fashion. 

After the high of the T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL 2026, Sanju Samson gets humbled here in Ireland. A nothing shot and he gets dragged on against Indian-origin Jai Moondra. Failure for Samson in this first match of UK tour. 

Moondra strikes first ball on debut! Bowls 139kph in the channel, angles it away, Samson tries to force it and gets a thick inside edge back onto middle and leg. Gone for 5 off 4. 

Sanju Samson departs for 5(4). pic.twitter.com/O3m2hQWArJ

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 26, 2026

The World Cup-winning openers, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, are here. Interestingly, Ireland start with left-arm spinner Humphreys, and Samson gets off the mark with a lovely four towards the off-side. 

Meanwhile, Abhishek has whacked his second ball to a big six towards the leg side. Pressure on Ireland right away as India take 16 off the first over.

Ireland end up with 182/9, from just 36/3 in the powerplay. Some poor bowling in the middle overs and death made all the difference, as Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany scored 50 and 49, respectively. Harshit Rana was the best bowler for India with 3/24.

• Powerplay: 36/3
• Middle overs: 101/2
• Death overs: 45/4

Liam McCarthy departs with two batters on the crease now on zero. Axar Patel was given the 20th over and he struck in his first ball, with Tilak Varma taking a fine running catch, as McCarthy tried to slog sweep. McCarthy falls for 7.

Gareth Delany looked all set for hits fifty, but as he tried to take on Arshdeep Singh, he mistimed and skied a chance at backward square directly to Axar Patel. He falls for 49.

Some relief for India as Axar Patel removes George Dockrell. Arshdeep Singh took an easy catch as Dockrell got an edge towards the backward point. Dockrell departs for 19. Ireland lose their 6th wicket for 164.

Just a week ago, Prasidh Krishna bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs against Afghanistan. Today, as he was rewarded for that effort in T20Is after two and a half years, he failed to make any impression. Prasidh conceded 27 runs in his final over to finish with 0/57.

Shreyas Iyer held Washington Sundar back till the 16th over and it turned out to be the most expensive over. Sundar gave away 19 runs in the over, with Gareth Delany and George Dockrell hitting him for a six and two fours.

Fifty and gone! Lorcan Tucker makes things difficult for Ireland as he departs soon after scoring his half-century. Harshit Rana gets his third wicket as he bowls a slower delivery. Tucker tried to take him on with a pull, but could not time it well. Ireland lose their 5th wicket.

Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany bring up a 50-run stand. Ireland desperately needed a partnership to recover, and they have. With six overs to go, Ireland would be looking to capitalise and get to 150-160. Lorcan Tucker has also got his half-century on his full-time captaincy debut.

Ireland cross 100-run mark as Lorcan Tucker takes on Axar Patel for two fours and a six to score 16 runs from his over. He also moves to 43 off 31

India have their second dropped catch as Abhishek Sharma joins the list. Gareth Delany tried to take on Axar Patel but did not get enough bat. Abhishek ran a few yards to get under the ball but failed to hold on to it. This is India's second dropped catch after Shivam Dube had one.

It has been one-way traffic so far, with the Indian seam attack controlling the entire phase. After 10 overs, Ireland have managed just 68/4. Gareth Delany and Lorcan Tucker are trying to salvage something after Benjamin Calitz's wicket.

Shivam Dube gets a wicket in his first ball. Benjamin Calitz was looking dangerous and Dube got his wicket. Dube bowled short and Calitz got a thick top edge for Prasidh Krishna to take the catch at fine leg.

Prasidh Krishna returns to T20I Playing XI since November 2023 and bowls the most expensive over so far. He concedes 15 runs in his first over as Benjamin Calitz hits him for 2 sixes.

Harshit Rana bowled an excellent spell of three overs at a stretch. He bagged two wickets with 11 dot balls, while Arshdeep Singh got one to reduce Ireland to 36/3 in the powerplay. Lorcan Tucker and Benjamin Calitz are rebuilding.

The early jitters are gone and Harshit Rana is now bowling an excellent spell. Tim Tector, who survived last over, departs. He grew impatient and tried to take on Rana on a full delivery. But he mistimed and gave away an easy catch to Shreyas Iyer. That's wicket no.3 in the powerplay as Tim Tector departs for 17.

Tim Tector just survived, but Harry Tector had to depart. Full, swinging away delivery by Arshdeep Singh, and as Harry tried to have a swing at it, he got an edge for an easy catch to Sanju Samson. Harry Tector falls for a three-ball duck.

The story of India's poor fielding and catching efforts continues even as the season resumes. Shivam Dube ran behind after Tim Tector skied a chance on Arshdeep Singh's delivery at the long on, but the ball hit Shivam Dube's hands and went for a four instead.

Fast-paced delivery and Ross Adair just wanted to slog, not knowing where the ball was. He got a top edge and Sanju Samson ran a few yards to take the catch. Adair departs for 12. Ireland 20/1.

Ross Adair is on the attack with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, conceding 19 runs in the first two overs.

Tim Tector and Ross Adair begin for Ireland. The overcast conditions are in India's favour, and Arshdeep Singh would be looking to make the most of it with his swing.

The India vs Ireland 1st T20I is live in India on Sony Sports Network across Sony Sports Ten 1 (English), Ten 3 (Hindi) and Ten 4 (regional languages). Online streaming is on SonyLIV. UK and Ireland viewers can follow on TNT Sports and Discovery+. First ball at 6:00 PM IST.

Ireland have been troubled by a lot of injuries. But Lorcan Tucker takes charge of Ireland T20I team as the captain, replacing Paul Stirling after a disappointing T20 WC campaign. 

Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(w/c), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, Matthew Hollard

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge both miss out. Shreyas Iyer slots into Suryakumar Yadav's place. With no Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy in the squad, India go with Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna are three seamers. 

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

Shreyas Iyer wins the toss on his captaincy debut for India and opt to bowl first. There is no Vaibhav Sooryavanshi yet.

This is not an easy forecast to read. There is light drizzle in Belfast this morning, and the rain probability for matchday sits at 35 per cent. Earlier previews put that number closer to 10 per cent, but the live reading is meaningfully worse.

Temperatures should reach around 23 degrees Celsius through the afternoon, with overcast skies and a light south-westerly breeze. If showers pass through quickly, the match should survive intact. If rain arrives mid-game, DLS comes into play. A shortened match generally favours Ireland, since it reduces the impact of India's batting depth and keeps the total more manageable.

Weather summary: Overcast, drizzle likely in patches | High: ~23°C | Rain chance: 35% | DLS a real possibility

Ireland's best tools are the conditions. Lorcan Tucker, Ireland's new T20I captain, who replaced Paul Stirling, said before the match that the Civil Service CC pitch should play considerably slower than the surfaces India's batters have been seeing in the IPL, and that the ground is bigger. Those two things together could produce a period of genuine adjustment in the early overs. Matthew Humphreys, the left-arm spinner, is their most dangerous bowler if the surface offers any turn.

Teenage debutant Reuben Wilson may also get a first cap. Ireland have never beaten India in a T20I, and nothing about this matchup changes the odds dramatically. But a surface that does not sit up, some overhead cloud, and sharp new-ball bowling in the powerplay gives them a chance.

The question India's management is actually answering in Belfast is not about Ireland. It is about what this side looks like ahead of five T20Is against England. These two matches are for giving new combinations a run, for getting Shreyas Iyer started as captain, and possibly for giving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his debut.

Iyer last played a T20I in December 2023 and was not in the World Cup squad. Coming straight in as captain after a two-and-a-half-year gap from the format is an unusual move, and selectors acknowledged as much when announcing the squad. His case rests on IPL experience, a title with Kolkata Knight Riders, and the selectors' read on the two-year cycle leading to the 2028 World Cup.

The batting is where things get genuinely complicated. Sanju Samson won player of the tournament at the World Cup and is essentially undroppable. Ishan Kishan has been in excellent form across formats. Abhishek Sharma was the second-highest scorer in IPL 2026 after Sooryavanshi himself. All three are competing for essentially two spots if the teenager is included, and any of them sitting out would be hard to argue with in isolation. Whoever misses today likely returns for the England series, but the call still has to be made.

The bowling is less complicated. Arshdeep Singh leads the pace attack. Harshit Rana returns after missing the IPL and the World Cup and should get a game. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar cover the spin overs in the middle. Ravi Bishnoi is the leg-spin backup.

Civil Service CC at Stormont does not have the deep statistical record of Test venues, so projections here are genuinely uncertain. The overall first-innings average in T20Is at this ground is around 127, but that number has been moving. The last six T20Is here produced an average first-innings score of 161, with several teams crossing 170.

Tucker's pre-match comments on the surface are the most useful guide available. He described it as significantly slower than the pitches India's batters have been hitting in the IPL, and noted the bigger outfield. Seamers should get something with the new ball, especially under cloud. Once the ball gets older and batters settle in, the scoring does open up, but it takes longer to get there than at most Indian venues.

• Chasing sides have won 16 of 26 completed T20Is at this ground. The lean toward bowling first is real.
• Toss verdict: Bowl first. Use the new ball and cloud cover, then chase with better knowledge of the surface.

India have won all eight T20Is they have played against Ireland. The first meeting was at the 2009 T20 World Cup in Nottingham. The most recent was the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, an eight-wicket win. Ireland have pushed India close twice in Dublin, but they are still without a win in the format against the Men in Blue.

The 2022 Dublin game is worth remembering. India posted 225 for 7, and Ireland chased it down to 221 for 5. Four runs short, two balls remaining. Lorcan Tucker, now captain, scored a century in that chase.

Rohit Sharma leads India's run scorers in this fixture with 201 runs across four matches and three half-centuries. Jasprit Bumrah leads the wicket-takers with eight scalps from four appearances.

Stat	Figure
Total T20Is played	8
India won	8
Ireland won	0
No result	0

Previous series results

Year	Venue	Result
2018	Dublin	India won 2-0
2022	Dublin	India won 2-0
2023	Dublin	India won 2-0 (3rd T20I abandoned)
2024 T20 WC	New York	India won by 8 wickets