Shreyas Iyer drags IPL 2026 into Ireland loss [Source: AFP]Team India lost its two-match T20I series in Ireland by a shambolic 0-2 margin against the hosts. Under the leadership of first-time captain Shreyas Iyer in his comeback T20I series, the ‘Men in Blue’ failed to chase down Ireland’s 150-plus totals twice in a row at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast last week. As Indian players prepare for the upcoming five-match series in England, captain Iyer explained why his team failed to upstage hosts Ireland.Shreyas Iyer says IPL to Ireland ground transition ‘challenging’While speaking with the reporters a day prior to the first T20I against England, Shreyas Iyer claimed that Ireland players had a better understanding about the dimensions of their ground in Belfast. Iyer praised Ireland players, and added that Team India will not have as much difficulty in England considering several ‘Men in Blue’ cricketers have already played in English conditions.Also Read- Who Was The Last Indian Captain Before Shreyas Iyer To Lose A Series On T20I Captaincy Debut? He said “Ireland had brilliant ideas about the dimensions of the ground, and we fell short in terms of analysing and planning the ground and the dimensions, and how the wicket would be played. A couple of us have played in England before, and we know the conditions, we know the dimensions over here.”Compatible to Iyer’s claims, the dimensions of the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast are a bit squarish, unlike many other cricket grounds in the world. According to the cricketer, the ground dimensions in Ireland made it difficult for him to set fields, especially after playing the IPL 2026 season in India where all grounds are perfectly even from all directions.Shreyas Iyer added “the Belfast ground definitely wasn’t a stadium. The outfield, it was a bit slow, and it wasn’t even. And the dimensions also a bit squarish. So, like cutting the singles, cutting the doubles, especially when you’re fielding in the outfield and also the angles… as a captain, for me setting the field, it felt a bit outlandish, because we’re not used to it.” Iyer further stated “We were playing in the IPL, all the grounds were perfectly even from every direction. So, that was a bit challenging.”Shreyas Iyer scripts unwanted record for India on captaincy debutThe senior Indian batter, making his return to the T20I side after over two-and-a-half years, was appointed as national skipper in place of T20 World Cup 2026 winning leader Suryakumar Yadav.Under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, India lost the first match of the T20I series in Ireland by 34 runs last week in Belfast. The outcome marked India’s first-ever defeat to Ireland in any international format. In the subsequent decider at the same venue, Indian batters failed to chase down Ireland’s 154, with both famed openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma falling for first-ball ducks. The team management also seemingly committed a monumental blunder on the tour by not giving in-form rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his debut international cap, despite the perceived public demand. India to face England in five-match redemption seriesCaptain Shreyas Iyer now has a shot at redemption, as the Punjab Kings skipper will be seen leading his Team India troops in England for a fresh five-match series. The series will be played between July 1 and July 11.The first match of the tour will be hosted by the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street and the action will commence from 10:00 PM IST onwards tomorrow. Also Read- Chester-le-Street Pitch Report, Weather Report For IND Vs ENG 1st T20I, India Tour Of England 2026
