Suryansh Shedge and Prince Yadav received their maiden international caps as India won the toss and opted to bowl first against an unchanged Ireland in the second T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast, on Sunday, 28 June. The match is a must-win for India, who trail the two-match series 0-1 after a 34-run defeat in the opener — their first-ever loss to Ireland in international cricket.

Debut Call-Ups: Who Comes In

Shedge and Prince replace Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna in the playing eleven. India captain Shreyas Iyer described Shedge as a 'powerful, destructive batter' who has built his case through consistent performances in domestic cricket, the IPL, and India A tours. 'He's a sensational youngster who has been scoring runs in domestic cricket and also in the IPL. He's got a tremendous amount of experience in youth cricket,' Iyer said.

On the younger Prince, Iyer was measured: 'It's Prince's first game, so I don't want to put him under that much pressure. It's important that he comes out here and gains the experience out of what is there to offer.'

Why India Chose to Bowl First

Iyer pointed to the unpredictable Belfast weather as a key factor behind the decision to field. 'It can pour any time, so we want to maximize the advantage of it,' he said, adding that adaptability — rather than a fixed game plan — would be the side's guiding principle. Iyer also acknowledged that the first game was his own return to international cricket after a lengthy absence, calling it 'a day off' in hindsight and expressing confidence ahead of the series decider.

Ireland's Outlook: Confidence After Historic Win

Ireland skipper Lorcan Tucker said he was pleased to be batting first and keen to build on the momentum of the series opener. 'I think it's time to come back, adapt, learn from the other day, and hopefully have a slightly better go and get in the power play,' Tucker said. He credited Ireland's bowling discipline in the first game — particularly their ability to suppress boundaries across long stretches — as the defining factor in their victory.

Tucker also confirmed that Matthew Humphreys is fit to play, and paid tribute to Harry Tector, who is set to feature in his 100th T20I cap. 'Harry's a spectacular player. I think 100 caps is a testament to all the work he's done,' Tucker said.

Playing XIs

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.

Ireland: Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (captain & wk), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, Matthew Hollard.

With two debutants in the XI and a series deficit to overturn, India face a stern test in Belfast — and the outcome will determine whether this tour ends in parity or a landmark series loss to Ireland.