Ireland vs India, 1st T20I, India tour of Ireland, 2026 - CommentaryIRE vs IND, 1st T20I, India tour of Ireland, 2026 - Commentary

It's a day that the Ireland cricket community is not going to forget! What a start to Lorcan Tucker's captaincy as he delivers a result that had never been achieved. A win over the giants and back-to-back World Cup winners, that too with so many injuries in their camp. If Shreyas Iyer was hoping to ease into his captaincy stint, that hope is well and truly gone. Ireland are here to play, and they're here to win. Onus now on the world champs to turn up on Sunday to salvage the series. That's all we have for now. This is Sagar Chawla signing off on behalf of Siva and Raju Peethala. Goodbye!

Lorcan Tucker | Ireland captain: [On Ireland’s victory over India and his first win as T20 captain] It was pretty special. But just credit to the lads. I think we scrapped through that game. We had some tough periods in it, but we stayed in it. And we were diligent, and we worked hard. And we were lucky to get the reward in the end. [On scoring another fifty as captain] I have no idea why. I’m sure it will be broken the next day. But yeah, it’s started nicely for me. [On recovering from 36 for 3 and his partnership with Gareth Delany] Yeah, I think India bowled really well at the start. I think they bowled really good lengths. They didn’t really waver from them. They stuck at them, found it challenging to hit good shots. It nearly felt like a Test match at one stage. But I think we tried to stay in the game, build a partnership, and then took our opportunities when they came a bit later. [On where this win ranks among Ireland’s biggest victories] I think it’s pretty special, I think, to beat the world champions at home, first game of the season, T20 cricket. But credit’s due to the lads. I think we had two debutants there who put in absolutely outstanding performances. I think to all the work that goes in behind the scenes, Cricket Ireland, everyone’s very dedicated, and I think that’s why we like to try and bring these results and support everyone. [On the performances of the two debutants] I think they were really dogged. I think we learned a lot from how India bowled in the first innings. They didn’t really stray from their lengths. I think we tried to tell the lads to do that as well, and they just showed their skill and their accuracy and their ability to stay in that spot and make it challenging for their batters. So absolute credit to them, but credit to themselves. They worked so hard, and they were able to execute their plans, what we asked of them. [On the chance to seal a series win against India in the next match] Absolutely, yeah. A series win at home against India would be pretty special. I think the lads are absolutely mustard keen to get back here. I think the energy today was fabulous, the crowd were brilliant, so special.

Shreyas Iyer | India captain: [On India’s bowling performance and the match slipping away in the latter stages] I think initially, the bowlers were bowling well. They got lateral movement, and they got a couple of wickets as well. So we got a tremendous start, but in between, we lost execution. We made them hit straight down the ground, where we know that the dimensions are pretty small. But then, yeah, the bowlers, when we had to shut down the overs, they were brilliant as well. So I thought 140 would have been an amazing score considering the start that we got to chase. But nonetheless, it’s a great experience over here. We got to play in these conditions, got a fair idea about the wicket, and yeah, great start as a captain. [On whether rustiness after a long break played a part and the focus ahead of the next game] Yes, definitely. We’re going to forget what’s happened. Definitely a lot to learn from this game and see to it that we come out in the next game all guns blazing. [On the bowling performances of Harshit Rana and Shivam Dube] Yes, certainly. They were getting help up front at the start, and Shivam, he has bowled crucial overs in the past. So I always back him, and I’ve played with him in the domestic circuit as well. I know his strengths and weaknesses. And Harshit Rana, he bowled phenomenal. Coming out of an injury to perform at this level and showcase this sort of talent, it’s simply brilliant. [On his message to the team after the defeat] I think you can’t take anything for granted. You can’t just turn up and win matches. You have to work hard and see to it that you’re in that moment. Like I mentioned earlier, you’ve got to stay in the present and see to it that if you’ve got that opportunity to squeeze the opponent, we’ve got to do that. And yeah, never take any moment or situation lightly. [On bouncing back in the next match] Yes, looking forward to it.

Stats by Deepu Narayanan

Best T20I figures for Ire vs Ind
4/35 Peter Chase Malahide 2018
3/28 Matthew Hollard Belfast 2026 *
3/40 Kevin O’Brien Malahide 2018
3/42 Mark Adair Malahide 2022

First time in 12 attempts Ireland have beaten India (9 X T20Is, 3 X ODIs)

First time India will fail to win a T20I series since Jan 2024 – the last being a 1-1 draw in South Africa in Dec 2023; they won each of the 12 series they played since.

Ireland – 11th team to beat India in Internationals; India is the eight Full Member side Ireland have beaten in Internationals, only Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka left.

Indian captains losing their maiden T20I in charge
Virat Kohli vs Eng Kanpur 2017
Rishabh Pant vs SA Delhi 2022
Shubman Gill vs Zim Harare 2024
Shreyas Iyer vs Ire Belfast 2026

51/4 by Ireland is the lowest score at the fall of 4th wicket from which a team has recovered to post a win against India in T20I
Previous lowest: 61/4 by NZ in Nagpur 2016

Ireland players winning POTM on T20I debut
Andre Botha (38 & 3/18) vs Sco Belfast 2008
Matthew Hollard (3/28) vs Ind Belfast 2026

Ireland players winning POTM on International debut
Eoin Morgan (99) vs Sco Ayr 2006
Alex Cusack (36* & 3/15) vs SA Belfast 2007
Matthew Hollard (3/28) vs Ind Belfast 2026

Matt Hollard | Player of the Match: [On making his T20I debut against India after growing up in Boksburg, South Africa] In all honesty, I never expected this. I always knew I had it, but to have a debut against India, it’s honestly a dream come true. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. My family, they’ve flown out from Johannesburg to come and visit me. It’s actually just… it’s still a bit of a dream right now, in all honesty. [On his emotions after his first wicket on debut] It’s actually funny. After that first ball, I turned to Harry and I said, “The first one’s done.” And as soon as that ball went up, I just… I honestly, I stopped breathing for a minute. And then as soon as Lorcan took it, all the emotions sort of just exploded out of me. It was really, really, really special. So, yeah. [On his journey to representing Ireland] So I’ve really been wanting to come over to Ireland since 2019. Then COVID hit and there was a lot of complications. A lot of things happened that was a bit of a setback for me. My brother came first, and then he says, “You have to come now.” And he pulled me over here. And ever since then, Cricket Ireland has just treated me unbelievably well. They’ve backed me, and I’m just extremely grateful for them, in all honesty. [On becoming the first player from Balbriggan Cricket Club to represent Ireland] Honestly, you guys never knew who I was, what I did, where I came from. You guys have allowed me to come over here and play cricket. So, Balbriggan, everyone there, thank you for the support, and just thank you. Thanks for the journey. [On having his family present for his debut and his message to those back home] I haven’t seen them in a while, and having them over here, it’s honestly just… nothing could be better right now. Them seeing me receive my cap and them cheering me from the side there, it’s… yeah, it’s unbelievable. And to my family back home, I know all the boys are watching there, all the cousins, thank you. I know you’re supporting, and thanks for the messages. They’re drinking brandy, and I really know it’s going down there. So, yeah, thank you.

17:06 Local Time, 16:06 GMT, 21:36 IST: Wow who saw that coming! A powerpacked Indian team, fresh off back to back World Cup titles have been stunned in Belfast. Shreyas Iyer's captaincy starts with a shocker of a result as Ireland make history with their first win over India. Look at the celebrations and what this means. So many heroic performances from the men in green, starting with newly appointed captain Lorcan Tucker who led the way with the bat. His fifty, and the partnership with Gareth Delany, made the recovery possible after they had slipped to 51/4. Then it was turn of the debutants to announce themselves with the ball. Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard with combined figures of 5/54 in their eight overs. Incredible from the two of them. And how about the bravery from Matthew Humphreys bowling with an injured hand and taking 3 wickets too. India were off to a flier with both bat and ball but just lost the plot on a pitch that had some spongy bounce and was slightly two-paced. So much to unpack from what we've seen. Let's start with the presentations first...

Matthew Humphreys to Arshdeep Singh, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Matthew Humphreys to Harshit Rana, THATS OUT!! Caught!!