The Indian cricket team is all set to return to action in the shortest format of the game as they take on Ireland in a two-match T20I series that commences from June 26. Fresh off a T20 World Cup win in March earlier this year, the Men in Blue will start a new chapter, with a different leadership group. And with that, some new faces have been named in the squad for the series against Ireland and England – players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav who have been rewarded for their performances in the IPL 2026.
But make no mistake, it isn’t going to be an easy task for the team management to zero in on the perfect playing XI. Especially when the squad comprises of a majority of players who are match-winners in their own right or ace their roles to perfection. And this is bound to give a headache for coach Gautam Gambhir and new captain Shreyas Iyer as they will sit down to select the team for IRE vs IND 1st T20I in less than 24 hours.
Time for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut?
The 15-year-old has been the talk of the town over the past year, impressing everyone with his ability to strike at will and deal with seasoned bowlers with utmost ease. After being picked up by RR in the IPL 2025 auction after the team scouts witnessed his prowess for Bihar in the domestic circuit, Vaibhav grabbed eyeballs in his very first season with his ability to strike fearlessly. He has grown leaps and bounds since then, emerging as a force to be reckoned with.
After playing a handy role in helping India U19 clinch the World Cup, Sooryavanshi continued to dominate with the bat. He scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 in IPL 2026, making him not just the winner of the Orange Cap but also awards for hitting the most sixes, the most valuable player, the emerging player of the season, and the Super Striker of IPL 2026. Well, after such an enthralling performance, it was obviously hard for the selectors to keep him out of the senior side for long.
And bang on cue, he received his maiden Team India call-up for the series against IRE and ENG. Sooryavanshi then went on to score 211 runs from 5 matches for India A in the tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A, including a match-winning 94-run knock in the final. His ability to be explosive at the top of the order is well documented. Therefore, it won’t come as a surprise if he is handed his international debut right away in the IRE vs IND 1st T20I. This leads us to the next question – who will make way for Vaibhav’s entry into the playing XI?
Samson or Abhishek – who will make way for Sooryavanshi?
There is no second thoughts about Sooryavanshi’s position in the batting order. He has to open the innings for India. But this would mean either Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma – who are currently India’s openers in the shortest format of the game – will have to be dropped. Both Sharma and Sanju were India’s openers in the T20 World Cup. While the former had a sub-par campaign, the latter finished as the Player of the Tournament, thanks to his heroics in the knockout stage, knocks of 97*, 89 and 89 against West Indies (in Super 8), England (in the semi-final) and New Zealand (in the final).
Talking about their recent form, both batters looked in good touch (not their best) in IPL 2026.
Talking about their recent form, Samson amassed 477 runs from 14 matches in his first season for CSK, which included 2 hundreds and a fifty. Abhishek clocked 563 runs from 15 matches, including 4 fifties and 1 hundred. Given how the two have fared and their calibre, it would be hard to drop either from the playing XI to accommodate Sooryavanshi. However, given that the series against Ireland will be a golden chance for the management to give the 15-year-old a go, a rotational policy could be adopted where Samson and Sharma will be featured in the playing XI alternatively in the two games.
Will Shedge make T20I debut?
A quadriceps injury to Nitish Kumar Reddy came as a blessing in disguise for Suryansh Shedge as he was named as an injury replacement for the IRE and ENG series, thereby earning his maiden T20I call-up. The 23-year-old has a decent track record in T20s, with 356 runs and 13 wickets to his name from 30 matches. Since making his T20 debut for Mumbai in 2024, Shedge has gone on to become a regular in the side and one of the trusted all-rounders.
In IPL 2026, he featured in 7 games for Punjab Kings (PBKS) under the captaincy of fellow Mumbaikar Shreyas Iyer in which he scored 158 runs. Following that, he was a part of India A in the tri-series where he essayed the role of a finisher and played some handy knocks.
Now, the question that comes to the fore is that will he be handed his debut in the IRE vs IND 1st T20I. Well, the chances are pretty low, given that India have seasoned all-rounders like Washington Sundar and Axar Patel in the squad – both who are more capable and experienced in comparison to Suryansh. Should the Indian team management decide to test the bench strength, then the all-rounder stands a chance of making it to the playing XI while either Patel or Sundar sit out.
Debut loading for Prince Yadav?
Prince Yadav earned his maiden India call-up after picking up 16 wickets in 14 matches in IPL 2026, emerging as LSG’s best bowler in the season. The 24-year-old, who recently made his ODI debut in the series against AFG, has a decent track record in T20s – 38 wickets from 35 matches at an economy rate of 8.66. With Mohammed Siraj being rested for the series, Prince stands a golden chance to make his T20I debut and partner with Arshdeep Singh in the IRE vs IND 1st T20I.
Harshit Rana’s comeback
Harshit Rana is expected to finally return to action in the IRE vs IND 1st T20I after being on the sidelines for months. The all-rounder underwent a knee surgery earlier this year, forcing him to miss the T20 World Cup 2026 and the IPL 2026. He recently received a green light from the BCCI’s CoE to return to action and was subsequently picked in India’s squad for the series against Ireland and England.
Rana has played 9 T20Is to date in which he has taken as many wickets and has also scored 116 runs. While his return comes as a boost for India in terms of bowling, it remains to be seen how he will fare and his body will cope, given that he hasn’t played competitive cricket for months now. Besides, in the absence of Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Siraj, Harshit will be counted upon to deliver with the ball.
Cricket
Selection questions for IRE vs IND 1st T20I: Debuts for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav, will Harshit Rana return?
