Ireland Team - (Source: AFP)
On Friday, June 26, the much-awaited two-match T20I series between India and Ireland will kickstart at the Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast. The hype is real because the upcoming series marks Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s first senior tour.
The 15-year-old prodigy has taken the world by storm. Sooryavanshi shattered most records during IPL 2026, amassing 776 runs in 16 matches and becoming the youngest player in history to win the orange cap.
Ireland are without their key stars like Paul Stirling and Curtis Camphor. Further, Lorcan Tucker has been named as the new captain. Therefore, it won’t be an easy challenge for India, and there are players in the Ireland squad who can pose a threat to the Men in Blue, particularly Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
India vs Ireland Preview
For India, they will play their first-ever T20I under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who recently replaced Suryakumar Yadav in the team. Further, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to make his India debut. However, it is not known who he will replace in the playing XI.
Ireland also has an Indian-origin player, Jai Moondra, who has gained a lot of limelight. There is an interest among the fans in whether the Rajasthan-based cricketer will get an opportunity against India. Therefore, this article will shed light on Ireland’s predicted playing XI against India for 1st T20I.
Ireland Likely Playing XI vs India- 1st T20I
Openers and Top Order (Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Harry Tector)
Ireland didn’t have to worry about their openers for the longest time, but this time they do, because Paul Stirling is not a part of the 14-member squad. In his absence, Ross Adair and Tim Tector are most likely to open the innings against India.
Also Read: What Happened To India Players Who Made T20I Debuts In Ireland Before Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
Ross Adair has played 21 T20Is and has played as an opener in every appearance. The 32-year-old has 503 runs, averaging 23.91. His opening partner, Tim Tector, has opened for Ireland in just 4 T20Is, amassing 92 runs.
Tim’s brother, Harry Tector, will most probably bat at No.3. Tector boasts an impressive record against India as he has scored 123 runs in 5 innings, averaging 30.75, which includes a solitary fifty.
Middle Order and All Rounders (Lorcan Tucker, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Jai Moondra)
At No.4, Ireland’s new skipper, Lorcan Tucker, will walk to bat. The right-handed batter has not done well against India, but he has been in some fine form recently. In 2026, Tucker scored 250 runs in 8 innings, averaging 35.71.
All-rounder, Gareth Delany, will walk to bat at No.5. The 29-year-old had a great Ireland IP T20 2026, where he amassed 87 runs in 2 innings and also picked up 4 wickets in 2 innings. Similarly, George Dockrell, another all-rounder, will bat at No.6.
The 33-year-old has been playing for the Irish since 2010, and a player of his experience is required in the middle-order for Ireland. He scored a fifty in the Ireland IP T20 2026 and collected 5 wickets in three innings.
The man to focus on will be Jai Moondra. It is not a regular day when an India-origin player plays for Ireland, and that too against his nation of birth. The 25-year-old recently impressed everyone in the Ireland IP T20 2026, where he picked up 7 wickets in 4 innings.
Bowlers (Matthre Humphreys, Reuben Wilson, Matthew Hollard, Gavin Hoey)
Ireland have a problem in the bowling unit because they lack experience. Humphreys is the only experienced star who has played 18 matches and taken 25 wickets in T20Is. Rest, Reuben Wilson will most likely make his T20I debut for Ireland in the 1st T20I vs India.
Notably, Matthew Hollard and Gavin Hoey haven’t played a solitary T20I for Ireland and are most likely to make their debuts as well.
Ireland Predicted Playing XI vs India- 1st T20I
Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Jai Moondra, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Reuben Wilson, Matthew Hollard, Gavin Hoey
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