IRE vs IND 1st T20I: Date, time, venue, squads and where to watch
Synopsis
India's T20I tour of Ireland begins at Stormont on 27 June with a fresh captain in Shreyas Iyer and a debut dilemma that has gripped the country: does 17-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi walk out in blue against an Ireland side ravaged by injuries? With India unbeaten in all eight T20Is against Ireland, the result may matter less than the selections that shape the next cycle.
Key Takeaways
India face Ireland in the 1st T20I on 27 June 2025 at Civil Service Cricket Ground, Stormont, Belfast at 6:00 PM IST .
Shreyas Iyer returns as T20I captain after more than two years away from the format.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , 17, is in contention for his international debut following a standout IPL 2026 campaign.
Injuries to Varun Chakaravarthy and Nitish Reddy have brought Prince Yadav and Suryansh Shedge into India's squad.
Ireland are missing Paul Stirling , Mark Adair , Joshua Little , and Curtis Campher through injury.
India are unbeaten in all eight completed T20Is against Ireland.
India begin their white-ball tour of Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Ground, Stormont, Belfast on Friday, 27 June 2025, with the first of two T20 Internationals kicking off at 6:00 PM IST. The series marks the start of a new chapter under Shreyas Iyer, who returns to T20I captaincy after a gap of more than two years.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The Debut Question
The biggest talking point heading into the Belfast opener is whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 17-year-old batting prodigy, will earn his international debut. The teenager had a breakthrough IPL 2026 campaign and followed it with a match-winning run for India A, making him one of the most-watched names in the squad.
The selection puzzle is real. India's current top order — Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan — has delivered consistently in recent months, leaving team management with a difficult call on where Sooryavanshi fits in without disrupting a settled combination.
India's Squad Changes and Bowling Setup
India have been forced into late adjustments after injuries ruled out Varun Chakaravarthy and Nitish Reddy, opening the door for Prince Yadav and Suryansh Shedge. The bowling unit will feature Arshdeep Singh as the spearhead, with Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Prince competing for the remaining pace slots alongside spinners Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel.
Vice-captain Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube add middle-order firepower, giving Iyer a batting unit well-suited to the aggressive approach India have adopted in the shortest format.
Ireland's Injury Crisis
Ireland enter the series severely depleted. New captain Lorcan Tucker will lead a squad missing key players including Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Joshua Little, and Curtis Campher — all ruled out through injury. Uncapped duo Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra have earned call-ups, giving the home side a fresh but untested look.
History offers Ireland little comfort. India have won all eight completed T20Is between the two sides, and the world champions will be eager to extend that record as they begin a new cycle under Iyer's leadership.
Match Details, Broadcast and Squads
When: Friday, 27 June 2025, 6:00 PM IST
Where: Civil Service Cricket Ground, Stormont, Belfast
TV: Sony Sports Ten 1 (SD & HD) and Sony Sports Ten 5 (SD & HD)
Live Stream: SonyLiv (website and app)
India squad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Ireland squad: Lorcan Tucker (captain), Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Reuben Wilson
With India unbeaten in eight T20Is against Ireland and a clutch of fresh faces on both sides, the Stormont series promises to be a revealing early test of where Iyer's team is headed.
Point of View
Yet the system has produced a teenager too good to ignore. How the management resolves that puzzle — debut now or wait for a higher-stakes context — will signal the philosophy of the Iyer era more clearly than any scoreline. Ireland's injury list, meanwhile, risks turning the series into a training exercise rather than a competitive examination, which is the last thing India need heading into a tighter calendar.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the India vs Ireland 1st T20I?
The 1st T20I between India and Ireland is on Friday, 27 June 2025, at the Civil Service Cricket Ground in Stormont, Belfast, starting at 6:00 PM IST.
Where can I watch the India vs Ireland T20I live?
The match will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1 (SD & HD) and Sony Sports Ten 5 (SD & HD). It will also be live-streamed on the SonyLiv website and app.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his T20I debut against Ireland?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is part of India's squad and is being strongly considered for his international debut, but a final call depends on team combination. His IPL 2026 form and India A performances have made him a frontrunner, though India's settled top order makes the selection decision complex.
Who is captaining India in the Ireland T20I series?
Shreyas Iyer is captaining India in the two-match T20I series against Ireland. It marks his return to T20I leadership after an absence of more than two years.
Which key Ireland players are missing from the series?
Ireland are without Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Joshua Little, and Curtis Campher, all ruled out through injury. Lorcan Tucker leads a depleted squad that includes uncapped players Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra.
