India and Ireland will meet in the second and final T20I of the series on Sunday, June 28, at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. The hosts stunned the defending T20 World Cup champions in the opening match with a memorable 34-run victory and now stand just one win away from registering their first-ever T20I series triumph over India.
Ireland delivered an excellent all-round performance in the series opener. Their bowlers kept constant pressure on India’s batting lineup and successfully defended a competitive total. Playing in front of the home crowd once again, the Irish side will be full of confidence.
India, meanwhile, have plenty to prove after an unexpected defeat. Despite a brilliant attacking innings from Abhishek Sharma, the visitors failed to build partnerships and collapsed under pressure. Captain Shreyas Iyer will expect a much stronger batting display as India look to avoid a rare series defeat.
Match Details
| Match | Ireland vs India, 2nd T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | India Tour of Ireland 2026 |
| Date | Sunday, June 28, 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, W, L, L, W |
| India | L, W, W, W, W |
Head-to-Head Record
Ireland finally broke India’s unbeaten record in the first T20I, but India still enjoy a commanding advantage overall.
| Matches | India Won | Ireland Won |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 1 |
Weather Report
| Condition | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 18.5°C |
| Weather | Mostly Cloudy |
| Humidity | 90% |
| Rain Chance | 100% |
Rain is expected throughout the day in Belfast, and interruptions are highly possible. A shortened match under the DLS method cannot be ruled out.
Civil Service Cricket Club Pitch Report
The Belfast wicket generally offers help to seam bowlers, especially with the new ball. Batters who spend time in the middle can score freely, but stroke-making becomes difficult once the pitch slows down. Due to the expected weather conditions, fast bowlers are likely to receive additional swing and movement.
Winning the toss and batting first could be the preferred option if the weather allows a full game.
Venue Statistics
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 17 |
| Wins Batting First | 59% |
| Wins Bowling First | 41% |
| Average First Innings Score | 159 |
| Average Second Innings Score | 132 |
| Highest Total | 190/5 |
| Highest Successful Chase | 180/4 |
| Lowest Successful Defence | 146/6 |
Probable Playing XI
| Ireland | India |
|---|---|
| Tim Tector | Abhishek Sharma |
| Ross Adair | Sanju Samson / Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Harry Tector | Ishan Kishan (WK) |
| Lorcan Tucker (C & WK) | Shreyas Iyer (C) |
| Ben Calitz | Tilak Varma |
| Gareth Delany | Washington Sundar |
| George Dockrell | Shivam Dube |
| Liam McCarthy | Axar Patel |
| Matthew Humphreys | Harshit Rana |
| Jai Moondra | Arshdeep Singh |
| Matt Hollard | Prasidh Krishna |
Players to Watch
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma looked in outstanding touch despite India’s defeat in the first match. His aggressive fifty gave India early momentum, and he remains their biggest batting threat heading into the series decider.
Jai Moondra
The young Irish left-arm pacer impressed everyone on his international debut by picking up crucial wickets. His disciplined bowling with the new ball could once again trouble India’s top order.
Lorcan Tucker
Ireland’s captain and wicketkeeper brings valuable experience to the batting lineup and has consistently delivered under pressure in home conditions.
Arshdeep Singh
India will depend on Arshdeep Singh to provide early breakthroughs and lead the bowling attack after the disappointing performance in the opening game.
Probable Best Batter
Abhishek Sharma
The left-handed opener played with complete freedom in the first T20I and looked dangerous throughout his innings. If he receives support from the middle order, he could produce another match-winning knock.
Probable Best Bowler
Jai Moondra
After an impressive debut performance, Jai Moondra enters the second T20I full of confidence. His ability to move the new ball and bowl tight lines makes him one of Ireland’s biggest match-winners.
Match Prediction
Ireland have already created history by defeating India for the first time in T20 internationals and now have the opportunity to seal a memorable home series. Their bowlers executed their plans brilliantly in the opening game, while the batting unit contributed enough runs on a difficult surface.
India, however, possess greater experience and quality. Expect the visitors to respond strongly after the opening defeat. If their middle order performs better and the bowling attack finds early wickets, India have every chance of levelling the series.
Rain may play an important role, and any interruption could significantly influence the result.
Winning Probability
| Team | Winning Chance |
|---|---|
| India | 60% |
| Ireland | 40% |
Predicted Scores
| Team Batting First | Expected Score |
|---|---|
| India | 165-180 |
| Ireland | 150-165 |
Fantasy Cricket Picks
| Category | Player |
|---|---|
| Captain | Abhishek Sharma |
| Vice-Captain | Lorcan Tucker |
| Best Batter | Abhishek Sharma |
| Best Bowler | Jai Moondra |
| Differential Pick | Gareth Delany |
Final Verdict
Ireland have already achieved a historic victory and will be eager to complete an unforgettable series win in front of their home supporters. However, India are expected to respond with much greater intensity after their disappointing performance in the opener.
The visitors have enough quality across both batting and bowling departments to bounce back. If the top order converts starts into big scores and the bowlers make better use of the helpful conditions, India should have the edge in the second T20I.
Prediction: India to win the 2nd T20I and level the series 1-1.
