Ireland will host India for a highly anticipated two-T20I series. Here's how the visitors may line up for the first match of their tour of the UK.
India squad for two-T20I series against Ireland
Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his debut?
He could. With the England series coming up next, the mangement would be incined to try out the 15-year-old now, against Ireland, than later in the tour. But who will sit out for him? Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan? That's the all-important decision that the Indian management needs to make.
India might leave out Samson with Kishan already available as wicketkeeper and having played at No.3 in the IPL as well as the T20 World Cup, but that would make their top three entirely left-handed. Whoever is eventually left out would feel hard done by. Abhishek was IPL 2026's second-best batter after Sooryavanshi, Kishan has been in stupendous form across formats, while Samson won the player of the tournament at the World Cup and scored two tons in the IPL.
Iyer replaces Surya at four
India’s middle-order looks absolutely settled with Shreyas Iyer batting at four and Tilak Verma coming out to bat next. The latter performed his role perfectly during the World Cup and has landed in Ireland in scintillating form following a strong A series against Sri Lanka and an incredible hundred in the Telangana T20 League.
Also read: Who’s in, who’s out? Full teams and injury updates for India tour of Ireland 2026
Who will be the all-rounders?
With Suryansh Shedge reportedly arriving late after a last-minute call-up, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel could both be picked unless India decide to play a specialist spinner in Ravi Bishnoi. The only seam-bowling all-rounder in the squad for now, Shivam Dube would be expected to play the role of the finisher and could also be sent higher up the order depending on the game's situation.
Harshit Rana returns, Prince to make his T20I debut?
Harshit Rana is fit and should slot back into the playing XI after missing both the T20 World Cup and the IPL. Arshdeep Singh is the leader of the pace attack, and the pressure will be on him after an underwhelming IPL season. Prince Yadav is in line to make his T20I debut after two decent outings in the recent ODI series against Afghanistan.
India’s predicted XI for 1st T20I vs Ireland
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.
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