Australia team and India captain Shreyas Iyer [Source: AFP]The India vs Ireland 1st T20I became a disappointing failure for the Men in Blue after a triumphant T20 World Cup 2026 victory. The Indian cricket team, led by Shreyas Iyer, saw a harrowing loss at the hands of the hosts as they became the eighth ICC full member nation to be defeated by Ireland.As India scripted the unwanted record on June 26, there have also been several nations that managed to stay unscathed from Ireland’s claws. Let’s take a look at the nations that have been undefeated by Ireland in the game of cricket, across formats.Test playing nations who haven't lost a match vs Ireland3) AustraliaThe Australian cricket team, known for its dominance in world cricket, have successfully stayed out of Ireland's reach across both ODIs and T20Is. Australia have remained unbeaten against Ireland in the seven completed matches they have played. One match was abandoned due to rain. However, all the other games, except one, were won convincingly by Australia with comfortable margins. The only close contest came in an ODI in August 2015. Batting first, Australia could manage only 222 runs, with David Warner top-scoring with 84. Ireland responded strongly thanks to heroic innings from Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien, who brought their side close to victory. Also Read- Tilak Varma’s Spin Issues and His Ideal Role in India’s New EraNevertheless, Nathan Nile's three-wicket haul, along with destructive spells from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, saw Ireland bowled out for 157, handing Australia a 23-run win via the DLS method. That remains the closest margin by which Australia have defeated Ireland in any format.2) Sri LankaTopping Australia, Sri Lanka has been even more dominant against Ireland. Having played 11 matches across formats, Sri Lanka has remained unbeaten in all of them. Almost all of those games were won by convincing margins, with only one T20I at Lord's in June 2009 seeing Ireland come close to upsetting the Lankans. In the group-stage match of the 2009 T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka managed to win by just nine runs after setting Ireland a target of 145. Mahela Jayawardene did the hard work with the bat, scoring 78 off 53 deliveries. Ireland's Alex Cusack ran riot with a four-wicket haul to restrict Sri Lanka to a modest total. In reply, Ireland's openers gave the team a solid start. However, despite the promising beginning and John Mooney remaining unbeaten, the lower middle order failed to capitalise.Thanks to disciplined spells from Lasith Malinga, Ajanta Mendis and the legendary Muthiah Muralitharan, as Sri Lanka held on for a narrow victory. 1) New ZealandNew Zealand have won most of their matches against Ireland across all formats. Having played 13 matches, New Zealand have remained unbeaten in all of them. However, the Kiwis have struggled at times to contain the Irish side. There have been several close victories where New Zealand managed to win by margins of one wicket, three wickets, and even one run against Ireland. The most nerve-wracking encounter between the two sides came in an ODI at Dublin on July 15, 2022. The match was part of a bilateral series, and in the third ODI, Ireland gave New Zealand a tough fight while chasing a mammoth target of 361 runs. Batting first, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill scored 115, while Henry Nicholls added a vital 79 to help the visitors post a formidable total. Although Ireland's bowlers struggled, opener Paul Stirling lit up the chase with a brilliant 120 off 103 balls, while Harry Tector scored 108 to lead a resilient fightback on home soil. Matt Henry claimed four wickets from his 10 overs, while Mitchell Santner chipped in with three wickets. Even then, Ireland kept the contest alive until the final over, needing 10 runs from six deliveries. Blair Tickner held his nerve to defend the target, and on the final ball, Ireland needed two runs to tie the match. Although the Kiwis had the last laugh, it was a thrilling contest that came close to ending New Zealand's unbeaten record against Ireland.Also Read- Abhishek Sharma Gives Exact Reason For India's Shocking Defeat Vs Ireland
