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Ireland skipper Paul Stirling’s knee injury casts doubt on his T20 World Cup future after a dramatic catch against Australia in Colombo.
Paul Stirling will lead Ireland in one other T20 World Cup.
(PC: Ireland cricket)
Ireland batting coach Gary Wilson has said that skipper Paul Stirling’s knee injury doesn’t look great, with a report on X-rays conducted set to look on Thursday. Stirling injured his knee after landing on it after a successful catch throughout the defeat to Australia in Colombo.
Stirling was capable of dismiss a hard-hitting Josh Inglis, who was striking at 217.64, with a stunner at cover off George Dockrell within the seventh over. He flew within the air and pounced for an amazing catch, only to land on his knee and injure it.
Stirling’s availability for the rest of the T20 World Cup stays uncertain. As per an ESPNCricinfo report, he underwent an X-ray on Wednesday night.
Stirling injured his right knee while leaping to his right to finish a catch off Inglis within the seventh over of Australia’s innings. Though he later walked out to open the batting as usual, he was in visible discomfort, limping through his first single as he made his strategy to the non-striker’s end.
Stirling opted to retire hurt soon after and didn’t return to bat. Ireland’s chase fizzled out as they were bowled out for a modest 115 in pursuit of 183.
“It doesn’t look great. He (Stirling) went for a scan this evening, so we can have to attend for confirmation. He thought he was OK when he went on the market to bat. He was not going to exit if he didn’t think he was right,” Wilson said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
“He (Stirling) was attempting to maximise the Powerplay, principally. He was attempting to take off for a single, but clearly the knee seized up much more,” Wilson added.
Although Ireland have lost their opening matches to Sri Lanka and Australia, each at Khettarama, they still have a statistical probability of constructing the Super Eights. Ireland’s next match is against Oman on Saturday, February 14, on the SSC, before they travel to Kandy to play Zimbabwe at Pallekele on Tuesday.
February 12, 2026, 07:45 IST
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