India Tour of Ireland 2026 – Schedule, Squads & Dates

The India tour of Ireland 2026 is a two-match T20I series scheduled at Belfast on June 26 and June 28, 2026.

This short but highly anticipated bilateral series marks India’s new era in T20 cricket under a fresh captain and signals a bold reset in the team’s approach to the format. The series is part of a broader UK tour that continues into the five-match T20I series against England from July 1–11, 2026.

With the historic inclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old prodigy who could become the youngest Indian to play international cricket, and the appointment of Shreyas Iyer as the new T20I captain, the India vs Ireland 2026 series has attracted enormous global cricket attention.

India Tour of Ireland 2026: Complete Match Schedule

Both matches of the IND vs IRE T20I series 2026 will be played at the same venue in Belfast.

Match Timings Across Time Zones:

Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast Venue:

Both T20Is in the India tour of Ireland 2026 will be played at the Civil Service Cricket Club (CSCC) Ground in Belfast, also commonly referred to as the Stormont Cricket Ground. This ground is one of Ireland’s most prominent international cricket venues and has hosted several major matches in recent years.

Key facts about the Belfast venue:

• Located near the Stormont Estate in East Belfast
• A compact but spirited ground known for enthusiastic home crowds
• Conditions in Belfast in late June are typically overcast with possibility of seam movement — ideal for Ireland’s pace attack
• The ground can play host to significant swing bowling, making it challenging for batters unfamiliar with Irish conditions

India Squad for the Ireland T20I Tour 2026

India named a 16-member squad for the tour, with Shreyas Iyer as captain and Tilak Varma as vice-captain.

India T20I Squad for Ireland 2026:

Note: Prasidh Krishna replaced Mohammed Siraj in the squad due to workload management. Varun Chakravarthy was also initially selected but was ruled out after failing to recover from a foot injury sustained during IPL 2026.

Key Talking Points in India’s Squad Selection

• Shreyas Iyer — New T20I Captain

Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the new T20I skipper of the Indian side, succeeding Suryakumar Yadav. The appointment came as a surprise to many, given that Suryakumar had just led India to the T20 World Cup title. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar justified the decision, noting Iyer’s impressive franchise leadership record and his strong batting form in recent years.

• Suryakumar Yadav — Dropped

Suryakumar Yadav was dropped from the T20I setup altogether, with Agarkar calling it “a tough one”, citing Suryakumar’s poor form and the need to look ahead at the next two-year cycle.

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — The Teenage Sensation

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been handed his maiden senior call-up as the 15-year-old was included in the Indian squad for the Ireland T20 series, becoming the youngest player to ever be called up to a senior Indian team in any format. If he debuts, he will break Sachin Tendulkar’s longstanding record of being the youngest Indian player to play international cricket.

Vaibhav’s inclusion follows a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign, where he scored a staggering 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30 to win the Orange Cap and MVP awards.

• Prince Yadav — Uncapped Pace Sensation

Uncapped fast bowler Prince Yadav has also received his first senior T20 call-up following an impressive outing in the Indian Premier League this season.

• Tilak Varma — New Vice-Captain

Tilak Varma has been named as the vice-captain of the side, replacing Axar Patel. The decision was made with a long-term view for the upcoming two-year cycle.

Ireland Squad for the IND vs IRE T20I Series 2026

Lorcan Tucker has been named Ireland captain for the T20I series against India in Belfast, leading a new-look squad missing several injured fast bowlers and former skipper Paul Stirling.

Ireland T20I Squad for India Series 2026:

Ireland’s injury absentees for the series:

The list of injured players includes Mark Adair (rectus muscle tear), Paul Stirling (torn calf muscle), Curtis Campher (hand fracture), Barry McCarthy (complete ACL tear), and Jordan Neill (shoulder and foot injury). Ireland are without five preferred fast bowling options.

New faces in Ireland’s squad:

Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra have received their first call-ups to the senior Ireland Men’s squad. Reuben Wilson is uncapped in T20I cricket, having made his Test debut last month against New Zealand.

IND vs IRE T20I 2026: Head-to-Head Record

India and Ireland have played a limited number of T20Is against each other, with India dominating the overall head-to-head record. The two sides last met in the ICC T20 World Cup, where India’s batting depth proved too strong for Ireland.

Historical IND vs IRE T20I Summary:

• India have won the majority of T20I encounters between the two sides
• Ireland’s best performances against India have come when swing conditions favour their pace attack
• The Belfast venue is expected to offer Ireland’s bowlers some natural assistance

India Tour of Ireland 2026: Significance & Context

Part of a Larger UK Tour

Following the Ireland tour, the same squad will take a short tour southwest to face England in a five-match T20I series between July 1 and 11. This means Ireland is effectively the warm-up leg of a broader United Kingdom campaign for India.

Building Towards 2028 T20 World Cup

The selectors are beginning to prepare India for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. With nearly two years remaining before the global event in Australia and New Zealand, this is the ideal time to identify a core group of players and provide them with consistent international opportunities.

India’s New T20 Era Begins

The India tour of Ireland 2026 is historically significant as the first series under the new post-World Cup setup. Key changes from India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad include:

• New captain: Shreyas Iyer replacing Suryakumar Yadav
• New vice-captain: Tilak Varma replacing Axar Patel
• New debutant in waiting: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (potentially youngest India international ever)
• New fast bowler: Prince Yadav earning his maiden call-up

Where to Watch India vs Ireland T20I 2026 Live

The IND vs IRE T20I series 2026 is available for streaming and broadcast via the following platforms:

India Tour of Ireland 2026: Key Players to Watch

India

• Shreyas Iyer (C) — Leading a new T20 era for India; will set the tone with his bat and captaincy decisions
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — The biggest story of the tour; a potential record-breaking debutant at just 15 years old
• Abhishek Sharma — Dynamic left-handed opener with a big IPL 2026 campaign behind him
• Axar Patel — Reliable left-arm spin all-rounder who picks up wickets in any conditions
• Arshdeep Singh — India’s premier T20 fast bowler; will relish the swing-friendly Belfast conditions
• Prince Yadav — Uncapped pacer looking to make an impression on debut

Ireland

• Lorcan Tucker (C) — Ireland’s wicketkeeper-captain who leads a depleted but motivated side
• Harry Tector — Ireland’s most consistent batter in recent times; capable of anchoring an innings against top-ranked opposition
• Gareth Delany — Hard-hitting all-rounder who can disrupt any bowling attack in the lower order
• George Dockrell — Experienced left-arm spinner who can be effective in home conditions

India Tour of Ireland 2026: Predicted Playing XI

India’s Likely Playing XI

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to replace one of the openers in at least one of the two matches and is widely tipped to make his debut during this series.

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