Shreyas Iyer Takes Charge as India Prepares for T20I Series Against Ireland
New Leadership in T20I Cricket
India is set to embark on a fresh chapter in T20I cricket with Shreyas Iyer stepping in as the new captain for the upcoming series against Ireland. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has made significant changes, including the removal of Suryakumar Yadav from the captaincy and the team. Iyer's leadership will be crucial as the team aims for success leading up to the 2028 T20 World Cup, especially after successfully defending their T20 World Cup title in March 2026.
Another player to watch is 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has already made a name for himself and earned a spot on the national team despite the presence of several established openers. The question remains whether he will be included in the playing XI or remain on the sidelines.
Projected Playing XI for the First T20I Against Ireland
Openers: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is poised to make his T20I debut in the series opener on June 26. Given his impressive performance in the IPL, where he secured the Orange Cap with 776 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30, the management is likely to fast-track his debut. He is expected to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, with Sanju Samson possibly being rested for this series.
Middle Order: Ishan Kishan, the leading run-scorer in T20Is for 2026 with 532 runs, will bat at number three. Newly appointed captain Shreyas Iyer will take the number four spot, stepping in for the dropped Suryakumar Yadav.
All-rounders: The team may feature several all-rounders, including newly appointed vice-captain Tilak Varma, who will serve as a finisher at number five and can contribute with the ball if necessary. Other all-rounders likely to be included are Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.
Bowlers: Harshit Rana is anticipated to return to the playing XI after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him during the warm-up for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the IPL. Alongside him, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj are expected to complete the pace attack.
India's Likely Playing XI for the 1st T20I vs Ireland
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj