Must-win clash for India against Ireland amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi mania:Will Shreyas Iyer turn to 15-year-old for the series finale?

T20 world champions India were handed a brutal reality check after they lost to Ireland by 34 runs in the first T20I of the two-match series, in Belfast on 26 June. The loss came in India’s first match since becoming T20 World Cup winners for a second straight time and Shreyas Iyer’s debut as full-time T20I captain. This loss also ended India’s streak of winning every T20I series and tournament since December 2023. With their backs against the wall, India at best can level the series 1-1 and would be desperate to do just that. India simply failed to read and understand the conditions in Belfast during their defeat, and now that the shock has been received, the Men in Blue will be expected to bounce back, just like champions do. Ireland, on their part, will aim at doing an encore- taking India by surprise once again after defeating the Men in Blue for the very first time across formats in international cricket. India vs Ireland match details Match: India vs Ireland 2nd T20I 2026
Date: 28 June, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM IST (Indian Standard Time)
Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Where to watch: Sony Sports Network (live telecast), Sony Liv (live streaming)
How to follow: Bhaskar English app Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his debut in 2nd T20I? The fact that India lost to Ireland might lead many to think that changes will be made to the playing XI. But such a knee-jerk reaction is unlikely, given that it is just one bad game and the squad has enough quality to bounce back. Hence, the possibility of Sooryavanshi making his T20I debut against Ireland looks bleak at the moment. But again, the fact that India fell short while chasing may also make room for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was not handed his international debut against expectations in the series opener. If he plays, it will be interesting to see who sits out. Changes might also be brought in the bowling attack, with Prasidh Krishna making way for Prince Yadav. Abhishek, Harshit shining light for India in series opener While India endured a tough day on the field against Ireland, Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana sure had memorable performances. Abhishek blasted his way to a 20-ball 50 to keep India in the game while chasing 183 runs, and was the only positive in the batting effort of the Men in Blue. Harshit, on his part, picked up three wickets on his return to cricket since an injury that saw him miss the T20 World Cup and IPL. Tucker, Hollard to watch out for, for Ireland From Ireland’s point of view, there were many performers who engineered their maiden win over India. Captain Lorcan Tucker was one. The Ireland skipper hit 50 runs off 36 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes to help his team post a winning score. With the ball, there were many heroes, but one who impressed most was Matthew Hollard, who, on debut, recorded a match-winning performance of 3/28, with his victims being Ishan Kishan (1), captain Shreyas (3) and Washington Sundar (9). Indian-origin pacer Jai Moondra, who was born in Rajasthan, also impressed with a two-wicket haul, including the wicket of Sanju Samson on his first ball on debut. He will also be one to watch out for. Belfast weather report The weather report prior to the series opener had an 88% prediction for rain, but fortunately, the match went smoothly without any weather-related interruption. For the second T20I, the weather is clear of rain as well, with a 25% chance of downpour. The temperature is likely to be around 19 degrees Celsius or more. Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast, pitch report The pitch at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast, is not expected to change much. A score in the region of 180-200 will once again prove to be a competitive one. Fast bowlers will likely receive assistance but need to find the right lengths and lines on a consistent basis.