A new phase begins for reigning T20 World Cup champions Team India, with Shreyas Iyer taking over as captain. He succeeds Suryakumar Yadav, who has been relieved of leadership duties and left out of the squad. Iyer’s first challenge looks relatively straightforward, as India faces Ireland in a two-match T20I series starting today at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
Iyer’s Captaincy Adds Extra Spotlight
The series also signals the beginning of Shreyas Iyer’s full-time role as India’s T20I captain, bringing added intrigue to the contest. However, much of the selection buzz centres around 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Rising Star in the Spotlight
The young batter has emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in Indian cricket, following a sensational Indian Premier League (IPL) season. He further grabbed attention with a blistering 94 off just 29 balls for India A against Sri Lanka A in the Tri-Nation Series in Dambulla. His inclusion in the squad has fueled expectations of an international debut, though fitting him into the playing XI remains a challenge.
Selection Dilemma at the Top
Sooryavanshi is a natural opener, which complicates team selection. India’s current top-order trio, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan, are in top form in the T20 World Cup final victory over New Zealand in March, each scoring half-centuries.
Tough Calls for Team Management
Altering a successful top order so soon after a World Cup triumph would be a difficult decision. Dropping or reshuffling any of these players could disrupt a combination that has already proven its effectiveness on the big stage.
India vs Ireland 2026 1st T20I Predicted Playing 11
India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma/ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi/Prasidh Krishna/ Prince Yadav
Ireland: Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c & wk), Ben Calitz, Gareth Delaney, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Matt Holard, Reuben Williams, Jai Moondra
