IRE vs IND: India’s strongest playing XI vs Ireland for second T20I - Predicted
India will clash with Ireland in the second IRE vs IND T20I on June 28.
The Indian Cricket Team are up against Ireland in a two-match T20I series. The first match was played on June 26, which India lost by 34 runs. This was the first time ever that the Shreyas Iyer-led side lost a T20I against the hosts.
Shreyas Iyer and Co. chose to field first, and had a fine start to the game, picking three early wickets in the powerplay. However, soon after the fourth wicket, two solid partnerships were stitched by the Irish batsmen, which brought them back in the game.
Eventually, the Men in Blue were put to chase down 183. Only Abhishek Sharma (49) and Shivam Dube (25) were able to cross 20-run mark, while all other players got out cheaply. Ultimately, India lost by 34 runs, getting all out in 18.5 overs. Most of the players in the Indian team yesterday were part of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 winning team.
India had picked Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prince Yadav and Suryansh Shedge in the T20I squad for the first time ever, while Ravi Bishnoi had returned after a decent IPL 2026 season. While the team selected for the 1st T20I was near perfect, some changes could be made ahead of the 2nd T20I.
Here is a Probable Playing XI for India for the 2nd T20I against Ireland on June 28.
Probable Playing XI of India for the 2nd IRE vs IND T20I
1. Abhishek Sharma
The highest run-scorer from the Indian side in the 1st T20I, Abhishek Sharma, is an indispensable part of the XI. He is also the No.1 ranked T20I batsman in the ICC Men’s rankings.
The left-hander looked in incredible flow, and played a flawless innings in the 1st T20I, taking the team closer to the target. He will be crucial for the second match as well.
2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not picked in the 1st T20I, as the skipper Shreyas Iyer talked about backing the experienced players for the match. Sooryavanshi has been in exceptional form this year, with notable innings in the U19 World Cup 2026, the IPL 2026 as well as the Tri-Nation A series in Sri Lanka.
India should look to bring in some firepower at the top alongside Abhishek, and Sooryavanshi emerges as the perfect choice for the same. He could replace Ishan Kishan, who might get rested.
Sanju Samson (wk)
Although Sanju Samson had a poor outing in the previous match, where he scored only 5 runs, but he still remains a vital player for the team. Given his experience and his right-handed batting, he adds a lot of value in the team. Sanju has played at No.3 batting spot previously for Rajasthan Royals, so he can adapt well to that position.
4. Shreyas Iyer (c)
Shreyas Iyer had a forgettable day as a batter and the captain. He scored 3 runs and also lost his debut game as a skipper for the Indian T20I team. However, one cannot write down a player like hime. He was a great form in IPL 2026, where he scored 498 runs in the 14 matches, including one blazing century.
5. Tilak Varma (vc)
Tilak scored 19 runs off 21 deliveries in the 1st T20I. He recently led the India A side in the Tri-Nation A series, where they were victorious. He scored the most runs (275) in that series as well. Tilak had a great campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026, where he played crucial innings on this position.
6. Shivam Dube
The left-handed batting all-rounder, Shivam Dube, had a fine outing in the previous match. He bowled brilliantly in his three overs, giving away merely 18 runs, along with picking one wicket. Moreover, he also chipped in with 25 (14) runs, batting lower down the order, inching the team closer to the target.
7. Axar Patel
The former vice-captain, Axar Patel, picked two wickets in his four overs and had a decent economy of 8.2. Axar also contributed with 15 runs batting at No.8. He is a crucial bowling all-rounder for the team, with his agile fielding and incredible game awareness.
8. Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana returned to the team after an extended injury layoff. This was essentially his comeback match, and he delivered an all-round performance, with 3 wickets, cheap economy of 6, and 8 runs with the bat. He remains a key player in the side for his multi-dimensional game.
9. Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi did not play the first T20I against Ireland and with management preferring Washington Sundar. However, for Bishnoi’s masterful performances in the IPL 2026 where he picked 11 wickets with a strike of 14, he can be picked in the XI as a pure bowler. His variations and smart bowling will be key for wicket-taking in the middle overs, something which India lacked in the first game.
10. Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh has continued to spearhead the bowling attack with his exceptional powerplay bowling. Arshdeep picked two wickets in his 4 overs, giving merely 28 runs. He bowled brilliantly in the powerplay and the death overs, also chipping in with one catch.
11. Prince Yadav
Prince Yadav was picked in the squad after his breakthrough IPL 2026 season, where he claimed 16 wickets in 14 matches. Prince is also a genuine wicket-taker, who can bowl in the powerplay and middle overs. He can come in for Prasidh Krishna, who leaked 57 runs and was wicketless in his 4 overs.
By how many runs did India lose to Ireland in the 1st T20I?
India lost to Ireland by 34 runs in the 1st T20I.
Who is the Captain of the Indian Men’s T20I team?
Shreyas Iyer leads the Indian Men’s T20I team.
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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.