IRE vs IND: India's strongest playing XI vs Ireland for 1st T20I – Predicted
India are set to clash with Ireland in the 1st T20I on Wednesday.
The recently crowned ICC T20 World Cup 2026 winners, India, will be back to the T20 format with a series against Ireland. This is a two-match series, starting Wednesday, June 25. The match will be played in Stormont, Belfast.
The Men in Blue will have Shreyas Iyer at the helm for the first time. Tilak Varma, who captained India A in the recent Tri-Nation A series, will act as his deputy. The series is most likely to see the debut of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has generated all the buzz ahead of the match.
The Indian T20 team will look at this series as an opportunity to experiment with their combinations. The T20 World Cup and LA Olympics are due in 2028, and the team has ample time to try different players and give them the platform to express themselves.
On that note, let’s have a look at the probable Playing XI of India for the 1st T20I against Ireland.
Probable India XI for first IRE vs IND T20I
1. Abhishek Sharma
The No.1 ranked T20I batsman has been the key performer for India in T20Is. He has played several match-winning knocks, taking the game away from the oppositions in the powerplay itself. His explosive starts are pivotal for the team’s batting performances. He scored a scintillating half-century in the T20 World Cup 2026 final; and will continue this form against Ireland.
2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The teenage sensation has taken the cricket pundits and social media by frenzy, and everyone is awaiting his debut in T20Is. Sooryavanshi had a phenomenal IPL 2026 season, where he scored 776 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 237, winning the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament awards.
The recently concluded Tri-Nation A series, where India A won the final, the wonder-kid scored a blazing 94 off 29. All eyes will be on this young marvel for this series.
3. Sanju Samson (wk)
The Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2026, Sanju Samson, will be in action after a fine IPL season with the bat. Sanju is among the most experienced players in the side. His right-handed batting will add a lot of value in this left-handed heavy line-up.
Sanju scored 477 runs in the IPL 2026, averaging 47.7, including two centuries in the tournament. His three iconic knocks in the T20 World Cup 2026 were the key reason for India’s triumph.
Shreyas Iyer (C)
Shreyas Iyer is the newly chosen Captain for the Indian T20 side. Iyer is returning to the T20I setup after two years, having played his last game in the December of 2023. Since then, he did not find a place in the XI despite being in the squad often times, and now is returning as a skipper.
As a captain, Iyer had three remarkable IPL season. In 2024, he won the title with Kolkata Knight Riders, and then followed it up with being the runners-up in 2025 with Punjab Kings. In 2026, they had a brilliant start, but collapsed in the end. However, Iyer amassed 498 runs at a strike rate of 169.
5. Tilak Varma (VC)
The Mumbai Indians starboy, Tilak Varma, recently won the Tri-Nation A series, captaining the India A team. He scored the most runs (275) for India with an average of 55.
Tilak scored 375 runs in the IPL 2026, including a magnificent century against Gujarat Titans. He had a fine campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026 where he made 158 runs in 6 innings. He had significant contributions against Zimbabwe (44* off 16), and West Indies (27 off 15), and a vital 21 off 7 in the Semi-Final against England.
6. Shivam Dube
India’s key batting all-rounder, Shivam Dube will return to his national duties, scoring crucial runs in the death phase, and bowling some important overs picking wickets.
Dube has been the silent match winner for India. He amassed 235 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026, despite batting lower down the order. In seven out of eight innings, Dube made more than 20 runs, including a half century. His 43 (25) and 26*(8) in the Semi-Final and Final proved vital for India. Moreover, he chipped in with picking 5 wickets in the tournament.
7. Axar Patel
The left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, Axar Patel, is a crucial player at seven. He bowls the important overs in the middle phase. He is a terrific fielder as well. Axar had a great outing in the T20 World Cup 2026, where he picked 11 wickets in the 7 matches, including a three-wicket haul in the Final. Moreover, in the IPL 2026, Axar claimed 11 wickets and scored 173 runs in the tournament.
8. Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana is returning from a prolonged injury layoff, having missed the T20 World Cup and the IPL 2026. He has proven to be an asset to the team with his bowling variations and the explosive striking in the death overs. He has emerged as a crucial bowler, who can pick wickets in the different phases of the games.
9. Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi was part of the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year as an injury replacement, and claimed 3 wickets in 2 matches. He failed to make the cut for the T20 World Cup squad. However, in the IPL 2026, Bishnoi picked 11 wickets in 9 matches, at a strike rate of 14.2. He has phenomenal numbers in the T20Is as well, and now could be a good time to give him a long rope.
10. Arshdeep Singh
India’s primary left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh, has proven to one of the most indispensable players of the T20 squad. He has been a genuine wicket-taker, especially in the powerplay. He picked 9 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2026 at an economy of under 9. In the IPL 2026 as well, he claimed 14 wickets for Punjab Kings. In the current lineup, he emerges as the most experienced pace-bowler also being the first Indian with 100+ T20I wickets.
11. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna replaced Mohammed Siraj in the squad for the T20I series for Ireland and England. Prasidh picked 16 wickets in the IPL 2026 in 12 matches, at a strike rate of 14.6. He does not have a lot of experience in the T20 internationals, and has played only 5 matches. This series could be crucial for him.
When is India’s T20I series against Ireland starting?
India will play Ireland from June 26 in a two-match T20I series.
What is the venue for IND vs IRE T20I series?
IND vs IRE T20I series is scheduled at Stormont, Belfast.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.