The excitement is building as India national cricket team take on Ireland cricket team in the 1st T20I of the Ireland tour 2026. With a fresh-looking Indian squad, new leadership, and several young stars ready to shine, fans can expect an entertaining clash in Belfast. India will enter the series with confidence after their dominant performances in recent T20 tournaments, while Ireland will look to use home conditions and surprise the visitors with an aggressive brand of cricket.
Match Details
- Match: India vs Ireland, 1st T20I
- Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast
- Date: 26 June 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
The Belfast pitch generally supports batters early on, but fast bowlers can get movement with the new ball because of the weather conditions. Spinners may also play an important role during the middle overs.
India Team Preview
India’s squad features a perfect mix of experienced players and young talent. The biggest talking point is the appointment of Shreyas Iyer as captain for the series. Young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also grabbed headlines after earning his maiden T20I call-up.
Explosive batters like Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma can destroy any bowling attack on their day. India’s bowling attack also looks balanced with the pace of Arshdeep Singh and the mystery spin of Varun Chakravarthy.
Ireland Team Preview
Ireland will rely heavily on experienced names such as Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, and Curtis Campher. Their bowling attack, led by Joshua Little and Mark Adair, has the ability to trouble Indian batters in helpful conditions.
Ireland have improved significantly in T20 cricket over the years and will aim to take advantage of home support.
Probable Playing XI
India Probable XI
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan
- Shreyas Iyer (C)
- Tilak Varma
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Harshit Rana
Ireland Probable XI
- Paul Stirling (C)
- Ross Adair
- Harry Tector
- Lorcan Tucker (WK)
- Curtis Campher
- Gareth Delany
- George Dockrell
- Mark Adair
- Barry McCarthy
- Joshua Little
- Benjamin White
Key Players To Watch
- Shreyas Iyer: A new captain with plenty to prove in the T20 setup.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Fans are eagerly waiting to see if the teenage sensation gets his debut opportunity.
- Ishan Kishan: His aggressive batting can change the game within a few overs.
- Joshua Little: Ireland’s left-arm pacer will be crucial with the new ball.
Match Prediction
India will start as favorites because of their stronger batting depth and experienced bowling attack. However, Ireland’s fearless cricket and home conditions could make the contest more competitive than expected. Cricket fans can expect a high-scoring and entertaining opening match to kick off the T20I series in style.