Ireland Beat India 1st T20I 2026 by 34 runs at Belfast, June 26, 2026. Full scorecard, match result, Lorcan Tucker 50, Humphreys 3 wickets, Abhishek Sharma 49. Ireland lead series 1-0.
Ireland Script History — Beat India For The First Time Ever in Belfast
In one of the most stunning upsets in recent T20I cricket, Ireland defeated the reigning world champions India by 34 runs in the 1st T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast on June 26, 2026. After 8 previous attempts across all formats, Ireland finally earned their maiden international win over India — and they did it in style.
The Men in Green posted a commanding 182/9 in 20 overs, then bowled India out for just 148 in 18.5 overs, handing the world champions a rare and humiliating defeat. Ireland now lead the 2-match T20I series 1-0, with the 2nd T20I scheduled for Sunday, June 28.
Table of Contents
Match Summary
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st T20I, India tour of Ireland 2026 |
| Date | Friday, June 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast |
| Toss | India won, elected to field first |
| Result | Ireland won by 34 runs |
| Player of the Match | Matt Hollard (3/28 in 4 overs) |
| Series Lead | Ireland 1-0 |
Ireland vs India 1st T20I Full Scorecard — June 26, 2026
Ireland Innings: 182/9 (20 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Tector | 17 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 141.67 |
| Ross Adair | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 171.43 |
| Harry Tector | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Lorcan Tucker (c & wk) | 50 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 138.89 |
| Ben Calitz | 15 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 136.36 |
| Gareth Delany | 49 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 153.13 |
| George Dockrell | 19 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 190.00 |
| Liam McCarthy | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Matthew Humphreys | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Jai Moondra | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 9 | (5w, 3lb, 1nb) | |||
| Total | 182/9 | 20 overs | 15 | 9 |
Bowling — India:
| Bowler | O | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
| Harshit Rana | 4 | 24 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Shivam Dube | 3 | 18 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 33 | 2 | 8.25 |
| Washington Sundar | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19.00 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 4 | 57 | 0 | 14.25 |
India Innings: 148/10 (18.5 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 49 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 245.00 |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Ishan Kishan | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Tilak Varma | 19 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 90.48 |
| Washington Sundar | 9 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Shivam Dube | 25 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 178.57 |
| Axar Patel | 15 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 93.75 |
| Harshit Rana | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 88.89 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | 11 | (7w, 3lb, 1nb) | |||
| Total | 148/10 | 18.5 overs | 13 | 5 |
Bowling — Ireland:
| Bowler | O | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Humphreys | 3.5 | 38 | 3 | 9.91 |
| Jai Moondra | 4 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Matt Hollard | 4 | 28 | 3 | 7.00 |
| Liam McCarthy | 3 | 29 | 1 | 9.67 |
| Harry Tector | 3 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 |
| Gareth Delany | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3.00 |
Ireland vs India Head-to-Head Record — All Formats
| Format | Matches | Ireland Wins | India Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 9 | 1 ✅ | 8 | 0 |
| ODI | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Overall | 16 | 2 | 14 | 0 |
For 8 long years, Ireland had failed to register a single international win over India. That wait ended in Belfast on June 26, 2026 — a landmark evening in Irish cricket history.
Match Report — Ireland Beat India 1st T20I 2026
Ireland’s Batting: Tucker & Delany Forge Match-Winning Stand
India won the toss and elected to field — a decision that looked correct early on as Harshit Rana dismissed both Tim Tector (17) and Ross Adair (12) inside the powerplay, reducing Ireland to 36/3 after six overs.
What followed was one of the great Ireland T20I partnerships. Captain Lorcan Tucker walked in at No. 4 and immediately steadied the ship. Tucker, who now averages a half-century in every match he captains in T20Is, brought up his 12th T20I fifty off 35 balls — a masterclass in building an innings under pressure.
Gareth Delany, coming in at No. 6, provided the acceleration Ireland desperately needed. The pair added a match-winning 105-run stand for the fifth wicket — the backbone of Ireland’s total. Tucker was eventually dismissed for 50, and Delany fell just short of his fifty for 49 off 32 balls. Despite both falling late, the damage had been done. George Dockrell chipped in with a 19-ball 19 in the death to push Ireland to 182/9 — a total that would prove more than enough.
Prasidh Krishna had a day to forget with the ball, conceding 57 runs across 4 overs at an economy of over 14.
India’s Batting Collapse: Abhishek Shines But Falls Short
India started the chase at a blistering pace. Abhishek Sharma, the left-handed opener, treated the Irish bowling attack with disdain from ball one, scoring 49 off just 20 deliveries with 7 fours and 2 sixes. At one point India looked set to be chasing well ahead of the required rate — but the wickets tumbled at the other end.
The two Irish debutants proved decisive. Jai Moondra, the India-born left-arm pacer, dismissed Sanju Samson off the very first ball of his T20I career — a stunning international debut moment. Matt Hollard then removed Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession to leave India reeling at 68/4 after the powerplay.
Despite Abhishek’s electric start, he was dismissed for 49 trying to keep the chase on track. From there, India never found the partnerships they needed. Tilak Varma (19), Shivam Dube (25), and Axar Patel (15) all chipped in but none could accelerate enough at the death. Humphreys, bowling through pain with a taped hand, closed out the innings with a match-clinching 3-wicket burst. India were bowled out for 148 with 7 balls remaining — 34 runs short of the target.
Key Players of the Match
Lorcan Tucker — Captain’s Knock of 50
Tucker has now scored a half-century in all three T20I matches he has captained Ireland. His 50 off 36 balls under pressure against the world’s best bowling attack was a captain’s innings that set the platform for Ireland’s historic win.
Matt Hollard — Dream Debut, 3/28
The Player of the Match, Matt Hollard, took 3 wickets on international debut including the prized scalp of India captain Shreyas Iyer. He was accurate, deceptive, and executed his plans beautifully in a match that will define his early career.
Jai Moondra — Wicket First Ball
India-born left-arm pacer Jai Moondra dismissed Sanju Samson with his very first delivery in international cricket. He picked up 2 wickets overall and caught Shivam Dube (25) with a stunning reflex caught-and-bowled to seal a famous Irish win.
Abhishek Sharma — Blazing 49 in a Losing Cause
Abhishek Sharma’s 49 off 20 balls (SR: 245) was the one bright spot for India. He gave India a fighting chance but received no support from the middle order. Had he converted his knock into a fifty and beyond, the result may have been different.
Matthew Humphreys — 3 Wickets Through Pain
Humphreys bowled through an injury with a taped hand and delivered a match-winning spell of 3 wickets, including closing out the innings in the final over. His courage and determination embodied everything about Ireland’s performance on the day.
Ireland vs India 2nd T20I — When and Where?
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 2nd T20I, India tour of Ireland 2026 |
| Date | Sunday, June 28, 2026 |
| Venue | Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast |
| Time | 6:00 PM IST / 1:30 PM BST |
| Series Status | Ireland lead 1-0 |
India will be desperate to level the series and avoid a historic series defeat. All eyes will be on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was left out of the 1st T20I, to make his debut in the 2nd match.
Where to Watch Ireland vs India 2nd T20I
- India: Sony Sports Network / Sony LIV app
- UK & Ireland: TNT Sports + Discovery+
- USA & Canada: Willow TV
FAQs — Ireland vs India 1st T20I 2026
Q1. Who won the Ireland vs India 1st T20I 2026?
Ireland won by 34 runs. They posted 182/9 and bowled India out for 148 in 18.5 overs. It was Ireland’s first-ever win over India in international cricket.
Q2. Who was Player of the Match in IRE vs IND 1st T20I?
Matt Hollard was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding debut performance of 3/28 in 4 overs, including the wicket of India captain Shreyas Iyer.
Q3. Did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in India vs Ireland 1st T20I?
No. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not play in the 1st T20I. Shreyas Iyer (captain) confirmed he was left out on selection merits. He is expected to feature in the 2nd T20I on June 28.
Q4. How many times has Ireland beaten India before this?
This was the first-ever international win for Ireland over India across all formats. Before June 26, 2026, Ireland had played 15 matches against India and lost all of them.
Q5. When is the Ireland vs India 2nd T20I 2026?
The 2nd T20I is on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. Start time is 6:00 PM IST / 1:30 PM BST.
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