Ireland beats India by 34 runs in opening T20, Shreyas Iyer's captaincy debut

Ireland secured a historic 34‑run victory over India in the series‑opening T20 at Belfast, posting 182/9 and bowling India out for 148. It was the first time the Irish have defeated the world‑champion side in any format.

New Indian captain Shreyas Iyer led the side in his debut, speaking about team culture and a "play like lions" mindset. India’s batting collapsed after a brisk 50 from Abhishek Sharma, which was later revised to 49 when a leg‑bye was re‑classified. Shivam Dubey claimed a wicket on his birthday.

Bowling woes compounded the loss: Prasidh Krishna conceded 57 runs in four overs without a wicket, setting a record for the most expensive spell in consecutive T20Is. Ireland’s bowlers, including debutants Mathew Hallard and Jai Mundra, applied pressure throughout.

Coach Gautam Gherkhari and selectors left 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Suryavanshi out of the XI, opting for experienced players as the team looks to rebound in the second match.