India’s first outing as T20 champions comes against Ireland

When: 1st T20I, Friday June 26 at Civil Service Cricket Ground, Stormont, Belfast. 6:00 PM IST. Context: India’s first T20I since winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. This series kicks off the 2028 T20 World Cup and LA Olympics cycle. Record: India have never lost a completed T20I vs Ireland – won all 8 previous meetings.

In a calendar as chaotic as cricket's, there aren't clearly marked cycles anymore. Every team has its own reset buttons. India's T20I side resets and seeks to improve on an already wildly successful T20I side when they take on Ireland in Belfast on Friday.

This is the first time they play a T20I since winning the T20 World Cup. They have now lost only one match in their last two World Cups, but have ruthlessly moved on from their captain and have also added the most exciting young player in the world, the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, to the squad.

Captain: Shreyas Iyer named new T20I captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav who was dropped due to poor form. Vice-captain: Tilak Varma Squad shift: Young, dynamic squad blending explosive youth + seasoned players. Seniors likely rested.

If Ireland are to spring a surprise first international win against India, they will have do without five injured seam bowlers and Paul Stirling, who stepped down as captain after the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Lorcan Tucker, who stood in for Stirling when he was injured at the World Cup, will take over the captaincy full-time with this huge challenge. You can't even call this a post-World Cup reset for Ireland, who are just scrambling for fit players at the moment.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Spotlight

The debut question: 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi selected after Orange Cap-winning IPL 2026: 776 runs, SR 237.3Selection puzzle: India must decide whether to break up the successful opening pair of Abhishek Sharma + Sanju Samson to fit him in Eligibility: Turned 15 on March 27, 2026, clearing ICC’s minimum-age rule.

Tucker said the pitch in Belfast was expected to be much slower than the batting beauties Indian players might have been accustomed to in the IPL. The ground is also bigger. So expect a period of adjustment. The afternoon is likely to stay cloudy with a possible quick shower.