India begin a two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast on Friday, marking Shreyas Iyer’s first outing as full-time T20I captain. All eyes are on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who could debut and force a reshuffle among top-order batters. The game will be shown on Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on the SonyLIV app and website.
India is set to face Ireland in a two-match T20I series starting Friday. The first IND vs IRE T20I match will be played at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast from 6 p.m. IST onwards. This will be the India's first match under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who took over the reins of T20I team from Suryakumar Yadav. He will be eager to start his full-time captaincy stint with a series win.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been the centre of attention ahead of the series, but it remains to be seen whether the team management will hand the 15-year-old his international debut.
If Sooryavanshi makes his debut, then the management will have to tinker the batting positions of India's top three - Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. In the middle order, the team has Shreyas Iyer and his deputy, Tilak Varma, along with all-rounders Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Suryansh Shedge.
On the bowling front, India have a second-string attack, but this series, followed by the one against England, presents an excellent opportunity for them to prove their mettle.
Harshit Rana's return from injury has given India more options in the pace unit, but he will have fierce competition from Prasidh Krishna and Prince Yadav.
Cricket Ireland has chosen Lorcan Tucker to lead the team against India. Pacers Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra have been called up as Ireland are without preferred fast bowling options.
"Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra have received their first call-ups to the senior Ireland Men's squad. Reuben Wilson is uncapped in T20I cricket – he made his Test debut last month against New Zealand," Cricket Ireland said.
Ireland will also be without their former skipper Paul Stirling, who stepped down as captain after this year's T20 World Cup.
The list of injured players includes Mark Adair (rectus muscle tear), Stirling (torn calf muscle), Curtis Campher (hand fracture), Barry McCarthy (complete ACL tear), and Jordan Neill (shoulder and foot injury).
The 1st IND vs IRE T20I match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network TV channels.
The 1st T20I between India and Ireland will be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website.
India Squad: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Ireland Squad: Lorcan Tucker (C), Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Reuben Wilson.