India and Ireland are set to face each other in the first T20I of the three-match series on Friday, June 26, at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. While India arrive as the reigning T20 world champions, Ireland will be eager to challenge one of the strongest teams in world cricket in front of their home supporters.
The series also marks the beginning of a new chapter for India in the shortest format. Shreyas Iyer will lead the T20I side for the first time, while several fresh faces have been included in the squad. One of the biggest talking points ahead of the match is whether teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi receives his international debut.
Ireland, meanwhile, will look to make the most of home conditions. Although they have never defeated India in T20 internationals, they possess several experienced players capable of making life difficult for the visitors if they produce a complete team performance.
Match Details
| Match | Ireland vs India, 1st T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | India Tour of Ireland 2026 |
| Date | Friday, June 26, 2026 |
| Time | 6:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast |
| Live Streaming | Sony LIV |
| TV Broadcast | Sony Sports TEN Network, DD Sports |
IRE vs IND Team Form
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| Ireland | W, L, L, W, W |
| India | W, W, W, W, L |
India enter the contest with excellent recent form, while Ireland have shown flashes of promise but remain inconsistent.
Head-to-Head Record
India have completely dominated this rivalry in T20 internationals.
| Matches | India Won | Ireland Won |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 0 |
India have won every T20I played between the two nations.
Weather Report
The weather forecast suggests slightly overcast conditions with a possibility of interruptions.
| Condition | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 17.5°C |
| Weather | Mostly Cloudy |
| Humidity | 88% |
| Rain Chances | 55% |
Rain remains a possibility, so teams may keep the Duckworth-Lewis method in mind while planning their strategy.
Civil Service Cricket Club Pitch Report
The Belfast surface generally provides a balanced contest between bat and ball. Fast bowlers often receive movement with the new ball due to the grassy covering and cool weather. Once batters settle in, stroke-making becomes much easier and run scoring improves significantly.
The average first innings score is around 158, indicating that a total above 170 could become challenging if bowlers make good use of the early conditions. Winning the toss and bowling first could be a smart option if rain threatens the game.
Venue Statistics
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 16 |
| Batting First Wins | 56% |
| Bowling First Wins | 44% |
| Average First Innings Score | 158 |
| Average Second Innings Score | 131 |
| Highest Team Total | 190/5 |
| Highest Successful Chase | 180/4 |
| Lowest Defended Total | 146/6 |
Pace vs Spin
| Bowling Type | Wickets |
|---|---|
| Pace | 61 |
| Spin | 57 |
Both pace and spin have enjoyed success at this venue, although seamers are expected to have a slight advantage with the new ball.
Probable Playing XI
| Ireland | India |
|---|---|
| Ross Adair | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi / Abhishek Sharma |
| Stephen Doheny | Sanju Samson (WK) |
| Lorcan Tucker (C & WK) | Ishan Kishan |
| Harry Tector | Shreyas Iyer (C) |
| Tim Tector | Tilak Varma |
| Gareth Delany | Shivam Dube |
| George Dockrell | Axar Patel |
| Matthew Humphreys | Harshit Rana |
| Liam McCarthy | Ravi Bishnoi |
| Gavin Hoey | Arshdeep Singh |
| Reuben Wilson | Prasidh Krishna |
Players to Watch
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (India)
The teenage batting sensation has impressed at every level with his fearless stroke play. If he makes his debut, all eyes will be on how he handles international cricket.
Shreyas Iyer (India)
Leading the T20 side for the first time, Iyer will aim to guide the team with both his captaincy and middle-order batting.
Harry Tector (Ireland)
Ireland’s dependable batter will have a major responsibility against India’s quality bowling attack.
Lorcan Tucker (Ireland)
The wicketkeeper-batter can provide quick starts and has the ability to change the momentum during the powerplay.
Probable Best Batter
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
If selected, the young left-hander could become the biggest attraction of the match. His aggressive batting style and recent run of outstanding performances make him a strong candidate to score heavily.
Probable Best Bowler
Arshdeep Singh
With plenty of movement expected under Belfast conditions, Arshdeep’s ability to swing the new ball and bowl accurately in the death overs makes him India’s biggest bowling threat.
Match Prediction
Ireland will enjoy home conditions and are expected to compete hard, especially with the new ball. However, India’s batting depth, experienced bowling attack, and recent form give them a clear advantage.
The visitors also have an excellent record against Ireland and possess several match-winners capable of turning the game quickly. Unless Ireland produce an exceptional all-round performance, India should have enough quality to begin the series with a victory.
Winning Probability
| Team | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|
| India | 80% |
| Ireland | 20% |
Predicted First Innings Score
| Team Batting First | Expected Score |
|---|---|
| Ireland | 165-180 |
| India | 185-205 |
Fantasy Cricket Picks
| Category | Player |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Vice-Captain | Sanju Samson |
| Best Batter | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Best Bowler | Arshdeep Singh |
| Differential Pick | Harry Tector |
Final Verdict
India begin the series as overwhelming favourites and will be keen to make a winning start under their new T20 captain. The visitors have a strong record against Ireland and possess greater experience in every department.
Ireland will hope that home conditions and local support help them challenge the defending T20 world champions, but they must deliver an exceptional performance to break India’s unbeaten record in this rivalry.
Prediction: India to win the 1st T20I.
