![Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir [Source: CREX, AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1782478911265_Vaibhav_Sooryavanshi_Gautam_Gambhir.jpg?type=hq)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir [Source: CREX, AFP]
Team India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to field first against Ireland in the first T20I of their two-match series in Belfast. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was surprisingly not selected in the playing XI, even though his much-awaited debut was one of the biggest talking points leading up to the series.
While many Indian cricket fans believe that excluding Sooryavanshi from the playing XI was a mistake on part of the team management, it was not the only blunder the visitors made at the toss prior to the match.
India commits massive Shivam Dube blunder at India vs Ireland toss
In the team sheet, as presented by captain Shreyas Iyer at the toss, star all-rounder Shivam Dube was listed as a right-handed batter. Also celebrating his 33rd birthday on the day, the senior Indian cricketer is actually a left-handed batter and a right-arm fast bowler.
Also Read- Gautam Gambhir's Team First Obsession Resurfaces After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Debut Snub
In any case, the sheet also confirmed that fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana will be making their returns to the national T20I XI after missing the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.
In the absence of young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the Indian top four now comprises of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer himself for the series-opener in Belfast against Ireland. Here is a look at the entire Indian playing XI as presented in the sheet, where Shivam Dube is listed as a right-handed batter.
India creates rare record in first T20I with Shivam Dube inclusion
On the bright side, Team India created a rare playing XI record after including star all-rounder Shivam Dube in the team. The playing XI unleashed against Ireland in the first T20I of the series in Belfast features quite a number of left-handed batters.
With opening batter Abhishek Sharma, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, all-rounders Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube among others; the Indian team management named as many as seven left-handed batters in the XI.
The instance marked only the eighth occasion in India’s T20I history where the ‘Men in Blue’ came out with seven or more left-handed batters in a single game. Interestingly, three of those instances occurred during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, and four of those occurred during the recently-concluded 2026 T20 World Cup itself.
Most Left-Hand Batters for India in a T20I:
- 8 vs Bangladesh, Hangzhou, 2023
- 8 vs Afghanistan, Hangzhou, 2023
- 7 vs Nepal, Hangzhou, 2023
- 7 vs United States of America, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026
- 7 vs Pakistan, Colombo (RPS), 2026
- 7 vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad, 2026
- 7 vs South Africa, Ahmedabad, 2026
- 7 vs Ireland, Belfast, 2026, Today*
India wrecks Ireland top order in powerplay
Winning the toss and bowling first, Team India wrecked Ireland’s top order inside the first six overs of the game itself. Fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh (1-18) and Harshit Rana (2-18) both picked up early wickets to reduce the hosts to 36-3 after six overs.
Talking about the match, at the time of writing this article, Ireland are reduced to 52/4 after 7.3 overs.
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