India will start a new era in T20I cricket under the new captain, Shreyas Iyer, against Ireland. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee removed captain Suryakumar Yadav and dropped him from the team. Iyer has been given the charge going into the 2028 T20 World Cup and he will have his task cut out. India successfully retained the T20 World Cup trophy in March 2026. All eyes will also be on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. At 15, Sooryavanshi has already made a name for himself and he forced his way into Team India.
Sooryavanshi was selected despite India already having number of openers in their playing XI. Will the team management include him in the playing XI or will he stay on the bench. Here, we have a look at India’s likely playing XI for the first T20I against Ireland –
openers
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looks is all but set to make his T20I debut in the series opener against Ireland on June 26. Now that the selection committee has included him in the national team, the management isn’t expected to delay his T20I debut. Sooryavanshi continued his IPL form and won the Orange Cap for piling up 776 runs. Batting with a strike rate of 237.30, Sooryavanshi hit72 sixes and 63 fours. No other batsman could hit more than 33 sixes.
He is likely to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma. The selectors could rest Sanju Samson for the Ireland series and bring back for the England games.
middle order
Ishan Kishan will continue to bat at number 3. With 532 runs, he is the highest run-scorer in T20Is in 2026. He has been rewarded with a place in the ODI team as well.
Newly appointed captain Shreyas Iyer will bat at number 4. Iyer will replace Suryakumar Yadav, who has been sacked as the captain and dropped from the national team.
All-rounders
India’s playing XI could include a number of all-rounders. Newly appointed vice-captain Tilak Varma has become the new finisher and will bat at number five. He can also bowl if needed. Shivam Dube, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are likely to be the other all-rounders in the team.
Bowlers
Harshit Rana is set to make his return to the playing XI against Ireland. He suffered a knee injury during the warm-up game before the 2026 T20 World Cup and was ruled out of the ICC event. He also missed IPL 2026. Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj are likely to be the other pacers in the playing XI.
India likely playing XI for 1st T20I vs Ireland
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Hashit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
