The Indian men’s cricket team is once again set to take on Ireland in a two-match T20I series. This will be the first match of the series and will be played at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast, during the afternoon.

This will be India’s first T20I match since winning the T20 World Cup 2026. Unfortunately, former captain Suryakumar Yadav has been dropped from the squad, and the leadership has been handed to Shreyas Iyerwho has not played a T20I in more than two years. Tilak Varma has been appointed vice-captain.

It will also be exciting to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old sensation who could make his debut for India. He recently impressed everyone by scoring 50 runs in just 11 balls against Sri Lanka A and followed it up with a brilliant 94 off 29 balls.

Harshit Rana is also making his comeback after suffering an injury before the IPL this year.

India Probable Playing XI

It seems that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his debut against Ireland. The new-look Indian squad will be quite different. Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are expected to open the innings, while Sanju Samson could bat at No. 3. Captain Shreyas Iyer is likely to come in at No. 4, with vice-captain Tilak Varma at No. 5. There could also be a selection call between Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi.

• Abhishek Sharma (Opening Batter)
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Opening Batter)
• Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper Batter)
• Shreyas Iyer (Middle-Order Batter & Captain)
• Tilak Varma (Middle-Order Batter & Vice-Captain)
• Shivam Dube (Batting All-Rounder)
• Axar Patel (Spin Bowling All-Rounder)
• Washington Sundar (Spin Bowling All-Rounder) / Ravi Bishnoi (Leg-Spinner)
• Harshit Rana (Right-Arm Fast Bowler)
• Arshdeep Singh (Left-Arm Fast Bowler)
• Prasidh Krishna (Right-Arm Fast Bowler)

Key Players to Watch from India

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is one player everyone should keep an eye on. The 15-year-old batter has been scoring runs for fun, whether in the IPL or for India A. He looks match-ready, but it will be interesting to see how he performs on the bouncy pitches of Ireland.

Another player to watch is Harshit Rana. The fast bowler is returning from injury and has the ability to generate extra bounce. It will be important to see how he performs in his comeback match. He can also contribute useful runs down the order.

The spotlight will also be on new captain Shreyas Iyer, who has performed exceptionally well over the last two IPL seasons.

Ireland Probable Playing XI

Looking at the Ireland squad, it seems they are going through a major transition due to an unfortunate injury crisis. Key players Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Josh Little and Curtis Campher are unavailable.

Lorcan Tucker is expected to lead the side. Stephen Doheny is likely to open the innings, while uncapped seamers like Jai Moondra or Matthew Hollard could make their debuts.

• Ross Adair (Opening Batter)
• Stephen Doheny (Opening Batter)
• Lorcan Tucker (Captain & Wicketkeeper-Batter)
• Harry Tector (Top-Order Batter)
• Tim Tector (Middle-Order Batter) (or Ben Calitz – Middle-Order Batter)
• George Dockrell (All-Rounder)
• Gareth Delany (Batting All-Rounder & Off-Spinner)
• Gavin Hoey (Leg-Spin All-Rounder, Likely Debutant)
• Liam McCarthy (Fast Bowler)
• Reuben Wilson (Pace Bowler, Likely Debutant)
• Jai Moondra (Fast Bowler, Likely Debutant) (or Matthew Hollard – Pace Bowler, Likely Debutant)

Players to Watch from Ireland

Matthew Humphreys is one player to watch. In his last few matches, he has picked up 13 wickets with an economy rate of 7.3 and could become a future star for Ireland.

The spotlight will also be on captain Lorcan Tucker, who has scored 292 runs in his last 10 matches and remains one of Ireland’s most dependable batters.

Dream11 Fantasy Tips – Must-Have Picks

Top Batters for Dream11

Sanju Samson is one batter worth keeping an eye on. He performed brilliantly in the recent T20 World Cup and has scored 327 runs in his last six matches at an average of 65.4. He has proven himself on foreign pitches and can be a match-winner.

Harry Tector is another reliable pick, having scored 244 runs in his last 10 matches. Vaibhav is also a must-have fantasy pick. The IPL 2026 Orange Cap winner has emerged as one of India’s brightest young talents.

Best All-Rounders to Boost Points

Axar Patel remains one of the most reliable all-rounders in world cricket. He can contribute with both bat and ball and could trouble Ireland’s left-hand batters with his spin. In his last eight matches, he has picked up 14 wickets.

George Dockrell could be another useful pick from Ireland. Shivam Dube is also expected to contribute significantly with both bat and ball.

Bowlers to Watch in Dream11

Harshit Rana looks like a strong fantasy option due to his pace, bounce, and wicket-taking ability. Gareth Delany, who has picked up 11 wickets in his recent matches, is another reliable option.

Captain & Vice-Captain Picks

Captain: Sanju Samson

Vice-Captain: Axar Patel

Pitch Report and Venue Conditions

The pitch is expected to slightly favour the bowlers. No team has ever scored more than 190 runs in a T20I at this venue. During the first six overs, the pacers are likely to get seam movement, bounce, and swing due to the moisture present on the surface. Batting is expected to become easier as the match progresses and the pitch settles down.

The average first-innings score at this venue is generally around 160-170 runs. Talking about the weather, there is an 80% chance of thunderstorms and rain during the afternoon. The weather in Belfast is highly unpredictable, although the chances of rain are expected to reduce later in the day.

Head-to-Head Record: India vs Ireland

The two teams have played eight T20I matches against each other so far, and Ireland are still searching for their first win against India.

India have won every completed T20I between the two sides. The last meeting came during the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, where India comfortably chased down a target of 97 runs.

Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?

Looking at the squad depth, experience, and recent form, India clearly have the upper hand. They are coming into the series after a successful T20 World Cup campaign and possess a stronger batting and bowling lineup.

Ireland will be without several key players due to injuries, which further weakens their chances. However, playing in home conditions could help them put up a competitive fight.

India have never lost a T20I match against Ireland and will start as favourites once again.