India Chooses to Bowl First in T20I Against Ireland

In the first T20I match against Ireland, India has chosen to field first at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. Captain Shreyas Iyer explained the decision, citing the pitch conditions and the team's unfamiliarity with the venue. Young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will not debut in this match, as Iyer opts for a more experienced lineup. Gautam Gambhir has encouraged the players to adapt quickly to the conditions. The playing XI for both teams has been announced, with Jai Moondra making his debut for Ireland. Read on for more details about the match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 26, 2026, 18:45 IST

India's Decision to Bowl First in T20I

In the inaugural T20I match of the series against Ireland, India opted to bowl first at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday. The young batting prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, will have to wait for his chance to make his international debut as Shreyas Iyer has chosen to proceed without him for this match.

Shreyas Iyer's Insights on the Toss

Following the toss, captain Shreyas Iyer stated, "We have decided to field first. The pitch appears to be in good condition. Since it's a new surface for us and most of the team hasn't played here before, we felt it was best to bowl first considering the conditions and the environment."

Gautam Gambhir's Encouraging Words

Upon returning to Ireland, Gautam Gambhir conveyed a motivating message to the team, emphasizing the importance of being themselves and maintaining a relentless attitude. He noted, "Many of us are experiencing this for the first time, so we need to adapt to the conditions quickly. We had a great practice session yesterday, and the players are in excellent form."

Iyer Discusses Sooryavanshi's Future

Regarding Sooryavanshi's anticipated debut, Iyer remarked, "Unfortunately, he won't play today. He is an exceptional talent, but we have a wealth of experienced players who have performed well in recent series. We are confident in our current squad, and I believe he will get his chance soon. For now, we are fielding three seamers, one all-rounder, and two spinners."

Playing XI for Both Teams

Jai Moondra is set to make his T20I debut for Ireland. Captain Lorcan Tucker mentioned, "I would have chosen to bowl as well. The pitch looks promising. It's a transition period for us, and Jai is making his debut today."

Ireland's Playing XI includes: Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (w/c), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, Matthew Hollard.

India's Playing XI features: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (w), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.