India captain Shreyas Iyer praised Ireland for their exceptional performance and strategic execution in securing a historic 2-0 T20I series victory. Ireland defeated India by 34 runs in the first match and then by a solitary run in the second, showcasing their understanding of local conditions and strong teamwork. Irish skipper Lorcan Tucker expressed disbelief and pride in his team's character, while player of the series Moondra highlighted the importance of sticking to basics.
Ireland produced one of the biggest wins in their T20I history, edging India by just one run in a thrilling second T20I in Belfast to complete a historic 2-0 series sweep.
The Indian cricket team suffered a surprising 2-0 series whitewash against Ireland in a two-match T20 series in Belfast.
Ambati Rayudu says India's 0-2 T20I series loss to Ireland was the result of poor preparation for challenging conditions, urges Tilak Varma to improve against slow bowling, and advises patience with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Rajasthan-born cricketer Jai Moondra, who recently starred in Ireland's T20 series win against India, has been drafted by Rotterdam Dockers in the inaugural European T20 Player League (ETPL) Draft. The draft saw six franchises select 36 players from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, with Moondra being a key acquisition for the Dockers.
Following a stunning T20I series triumph against World champions India, Ireland coach Heinrich Malan has stepped down from his role.
Jai Moondra, a left-arm medium pacer from Rajasthan, made a dream international debut for Ireland, taking a wicket with his first ball against India. His journey is remarkable, having left a secure corporate job at Intel after pursuing an MTech in Dublin to chase his cricketing dream, culminating in a historic victory for Ireland.
Former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani reckons selectors missed an opportunity by leaving teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the Ireland T20Is, and says he should now be backed for the white-ball series against England, starting on Wednesday (July 1).
Josh Little, Mark Adair, Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, Barry McCarthy and Jordan Neill have been ruled out of the two-match T20 series against India with injuries.
Dublin-born defender Roberto Lopes, who represented Cape Verde in a recent tournament, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Dublin. Cape Verde, making their debut, impressed by reaching the knockout stage and narrowly losing to reigning champions Argentina, captivating fans globally. Lopes expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Ireland.
Ireland scripted history by registering their first-ever win over India, handing the visitors a 34-run defeat in the first T20I in Belfast on Friday. This is Ireland's first victory over India in any format.
India handed T20I debuts to Suryansh Shedge and Prince Yadav in the second T20I against Ireland, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to wait for his senior debut as Shreyas Iyer opted to bowl first in Belfast.
India's star-studded top order will be under pressure to make amends when they take on a buoyant Ireland in the second and final T20I in Belfast on Sunday.
India skipper Shreyas Iyer said his bowlers had the Irish batters on tenterhooks early on but rued the lack of execution in the middle overs after the visitors suffered a shock 34-run defeat in the opening T20I in Belfast on Friday.
The BCCI will conduct a review meeting after India's T20 series against England concludes on July 19, following poor performances against both England and Ireland, but has stated it will not make any 'knee-jerk' decisions regarding head coach Gautam Gambhir's future.
Mohammed Siraj has been rested from India's T20I squads for the upcoming tours against Ireland and England as a precautionary measure for workload management. Prasidh Krishna has been named as his replacement. The BCCI stated this decision ensures Siraj's recovery ahead of a long international season, following his recent participation in IPL 2026 and a Test match.
He will get his opportunity when the time comes, captain Shreyas Iyer said at the toss.
Vaobhav Sooryavanshi, 15, stands a chance to become India's youngest international cricketer, potentially breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak discussed the potential debut of 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the T20 series opener against Ireland. While acknowledging Sooryavanshi's talent, Kotak emphasised that a player scoring runs should not be benched to accommodate a new talent, highlighting the challenge of team selection with abundant talent in Indian cricket. He also touched upon captain Shreyas Iyer's leadership and the BCCI's system for nurturing young players.
A 15-year-old schoolboy needs to be eased into a senior team set-up, said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia as he explained the decision to allow Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents to accompany him on the white-ball tour of Ireland and England.
Former India chief selector M S K Prasad has called Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a 'super talent' and believes he should be immediately considered for the Ireland series.
India T20 vice-captain Tilak Varma stated that his batting approach is dictated by conditions and match situations, especially after the team's struggles with early wickets in the UK and Ireland. He emphasised the responsibility of playing for the country and adapting to overseas conditions after extensive play in Asia.
Indian batter Tilak Varma has defended his batting approach during the recent tours of Ireland and England, stating that his strike rate was dictated by match situations and team requirements rather than personal preference. He emphasised his commitment to adapting his game, whether it means aggressive hitting or anchoring the innings, based on the team's needs, especially when wickets were falling frequently.
Rahmat Shah has been appointed as the new Test and ODI captain for the Afghanistan national cricket team, replacing Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shah, who previously served as vice-captain, will lead the team alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz as vice-captain, starting with the upcoming series against Ireland. Shahidi's tenure saw significant victories and milestones for Afghan cricket, including strong performances in the 2023 World Cup.
Zimbabwe T20 captain Sikandar Raza believes the upcoming three-match T20I series against India will be a closely contested affair, with both teams having an equal chance of victory.
India captain Shreyas Iyer has urged his team to play fearless cricket in the upcoming T20 series against Zimbabwe, despite a recent winless tour of England. He emphasised learning from past setbacks, adapting to new conditions, and focusing on team unity to overcome challenges.
Following India's dominant T20I victory over Zimbabwe, social media erupted with fan discussions, with many attributing the team's relaxed performance to Gautam Gambhir's absence and V V S Laxman's oversight, while others cautioned against overreacting to a single match.
Former India cricketer and ex-chief selector MSK Prasad has questioned the consistent dropping of Sanju Samson from the T20I squad, calling it a 'big mistake' given his strong performances, while also defending head coach Gautam Gambhir against early criticism for recent series losses.
Suryakumar Yadav, despite being stripped of T20I captaincy and dropped from the squad, can still make a comeback to the Indian side if he consistently performs in domestic cricket, according to a BCCI source.
15-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could become the nation's youngest international player with a potential call-up for the Ireland tour.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer has expressed confidence in the team's preparations ahead of the T20I series against Zimbabwe, aiming for his first series win as captain. The tour is seen as a crucial opportunity for the team to acclimatise and perform, with young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma also in the spotlight.
'Which fast bowler did he spare? And you're making him warm the bench.'
This is not just a historic series sweep for Ireland, but for world cricket itself. To beat India, which hasn't been beaten in 16 series over three years, is truly remarkable.
Former national selector Saba Karim has called on the BCCI to thoroughly examine the Indian team management's role, including Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer, following the back-to-back T20I series defeats against Ireland and England.
Pundits and former players have raised concerns over the Indian cricket team's batting performance following consecutive T20 series defeats against England and Ireland. Experts like Dinesh Karthik, Sunil Gavaskar, and Harsha Bhogle, along with captain Shreyas Iyer, point to issues with adapting to conditions and a lack of rhythm in the middle order, suggesting these losses could be a crucial wake-up call for the team.
Shreyas Iyer leads a young Indian squad in a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, aiming for a crucial series win after recent defeats and facing selection dilemmas, particularly concerning the batting order and all-rounders.
India's spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the ICC to integrate lower-ranked teams into every bilateral series, arguing that this is crucial for the sport's global expansion, beyond just expanding World Cup formats.
The umbrella of 'inexperience' or 'reset' is merely an excuse. Team India's think-tank will have to admit that this is experimentation without a roadmap, points out K R Nayar.
India has lost its position as the world's No. 1 T20I team to England, ending a reign of over 1,600 days. This shift follows India's recent disappointing performances, including series defeats to Ireland and a crushing 4-0 loss to England, who secured the top spot with a dominant series win culminating in a strong performance in Southampton.
The BCCI will review the performances of India's players and coaching staff after the T20I series defeat to England, with head coach Gautam Gambhir's role also coming under scrutiny following back-to-back series losses.
