Team India departs for Ireland-England white-ball tour, Sooryavanshi headlines squad
Synopsis
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at 15 years and 71 days, has shattered Sachin Tendulkar's 36-year-old record as the youngest player ever picked for India's men's cricket team — and he's touring Ireland and England. With Shreyas Iyer leading a new-look T20 side and Virat Kohli eyeing an ODI comeback, this white-ball tour is less a series and more a statement of intent for 2028.
Key Takeaways
Team India departed Chennai on 23 June for a white-ball tour of Ireland and England , beginning 26 June .
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , aged 15 years and 71 days , became the youngest player ever selected for the Indian men's team, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's 36-year-old record .
Shreyas Iyer captains the T20I side; Shubman Gill leads the ODI squad.
Uncapped pacer Prince Yadav receives his first senior T20 call-up; Mohammed Siraj was replaced by Prasidh Krishna .
Virat Kohli is set to return for the 3 ODIs (14–19 July) against England, subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI .
The tour is India's first T20 action since their T20 World Cup triumph, with an eye on the 2028 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Shreyas Iyer-led Team India departed from Chennai International Airport on 23 June for a white-ball tour of Ireland and England, kicking off with two T20Is in Dublin on 26 and 28 June. The tour marks India's first T20 international assignments since their T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year.
Tour Schedule at a Glance
India will play two T20Is against Ireland in Dublin before heading southwest to face England in a five-match T20I series from 1 to 11 July, followed by three ODIs from 14 to 19 July. The T20I leg will be captained by Shreyas Iyer, while Shubman Gill takes over as skipper for the ODI series, with Iyer serving as his deputy.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The Youngest Indian Cricketer Ever
The undisputed headline of this touring party is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage batting sensation who became the youngest player ever selected for the Indian men's cricket team at just 15 years and 71 days — breaking a record held by Sachin Tendulkar for 36 years. His inclusion signals a bold generational shift in Indian cricket's selection philosophy ahead of the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the Los Angeles Olympics.
New Faces and Key Returns
Uncapped fast bowler Prince Yadav earns his first senior T20 call-up on the back of a standout Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign this season. Seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana, returning from rehab following a meniscus tear surgery in March, is back in contention, as is leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
Senior pacer Mohammed Siraj, initially named in the squad, was subsequently replaced by Prasidh Krishna. The change adds pace depth while managing Siraj's workload.
Virat Kohli's Comeback — Subject to Fitness
The ODI series against England is set to feature the return of Virat Kohli, who missed India's recent ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that his participation remains subject to fitness clearance. Kohli's return, if cleared, would add significant firepower to India's 50-over batting lineup.
What This Tour Means for Indian Cricket
With Shreyas Iyer now at the helm of the T20I side, this tour opens a new chapter in India's shortest-format leadership. The squad blends experienced campaigners with exciting new talent, reflecting a transitional phase as the BCCI begins building toward the 2028 T20 World Cup. Notably, this is India's first competitive T20 outing since lifting the World Cup trophy, making the Ireland fixtures a crucial early indicator of how the new-look side will gel under fresh leadership.
Point of View
But the Kohli fitness caveat is a reminder that the old guard's availability still shapes squad calculus. Shreyas Iyer's T20 captaincy is a genuine test: leading a side that mixes seasoned names with uncapped debutants, on pitches in Ireland and England that will offer conditions far removed from the subcontinent. How this squad gels in the next three weeks will tell us more about India's 2028 roadmap than any selection announcement could.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does India's white-ball tour of Ireland and England begin?
India's tour begins on 26 June with the first T20I against Ireland in Dublin . The England leg follows, with five T20Is from 1–11 July and three ODIs from 14–19 July.
Who is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and why is his selection historic?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a teenage batting sensation who, at 15 years and 71 days , became the youngest player ever selected for the Indian men's cricket team, breaking a record held by Sachin Tendulkar for 36 years .
Who is captaining India for the T20Is and ODIs on this tour?
Shreyas Iyer captains the T20I squad, while Shubman Gill leads the ODI side with Iyer as his deputy.
Will Virat Kohli play in the England series?
Virat Kohli is included in the ODI squad for the England series but his participation is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI . He missed the recent Afghanistan ODI series due to a hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026 .
Why was Mohammed Siraj dropped from the squad?
Mohammed Siraj was initially selected but was subsequently replaced by Prasidh Krishna . No official reason was stated beyond the squad revision.
