India's Upcoming T20I Series Against Ireland Confirmed for June
India's T20I Series Scheduled Ahead of England Tour
India's cricket team will kick off their first T20I series following their victory at the 2026 T20 World Cup sooner than anticipated. On March 19, it was officially announced that the Suryakumar Yadav-led squad will now compete in a T20I series in Ireland in June, ahead of their previously scheduled match against England in July. This series will take place shortly after the IPL final on May 31, as confirmed by Cricket Ireland (CI). Although there were earlier reports hinting at this series, it has now been made official. Details regarding the number of matches, venues, and timings are still pending. However, it is expected that this tour will be part of India's broader visit to the UK, where they are set to face England in five T20Is from July 1 to July 11, followed by three ODIs from July 14 to July 19.
Additionally, India is slated to host Afghanistan for one Test and three ODIs from June 6 to June 20, suggesting that the matches against Ireland will likely occur in the final week of June.
Change in Ireland's T20I Leadership
CI also announced a change in leadership, revealing that Paul Stirling has stepped down as the T20I captain after Ireland's group stage exit in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he sustained an injury during the second match against Australia. Despite this, he will continue to lead the ODI team as they prepare for the 2027 Cricket World Cup. Stirling expressed his gratitude, stating, "It has been a tremendous honour to lead Ireland in this format and something I have been incredibly proud to do. Captaining your country is a privilege that carries great responsibility, and I'm very grateful for the trust and support I have received during my time in the role." He further added, "While I will be stepping away from the T20 captaincy, I remain fully committed to the Ireland team and will continue in my role as ODI captain. I still have a huge amount of ambition as a player and feel this decision will allow me to fully focus on being the best version of myself and making the strongest possible contribution on the field." Although Ireland has not yet announced Stirling's successor, the new captain's first challenge will be leading the team against India in the T20I series.