Ireland (IRE) are set to face India (IND) in a high-stakes 2nd T20I of the series on June 28, 2026. After a frustrating begin to the series—including a 34-run defeat within the opening game—India is eager to secure a win and level the two-match series.
Under the tactical guidance of their leadership group, the visiting side is trying to bounce back strongly on the Stormont Cricket Ground. Meanwhile, the hosts, led by Lorcan Tucker, arrive with immense momentum following their historic first-ever T20I victory over India.
Ireland has shown incredible grit and can be desirous to maintain their edge to secure a landmark series win. With each teams featuring a mix of experienced campaigners and explosive young talents, this encounter guarantees to be a strategic chess match on certainly one of Northern Ireland’s iconic cricket grounds.
Match Details & Live Streaming
- Venue: Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast
- Date & Time: Sunday, June 28, 2026, 6:00 PM (IST)
- Live Broadcasting & Streaming: SonyLIV / Sony Sports Network
IRE vs IND: Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 9
- Won by Ireland: 1
- Won by India: 8
Pitch Report
The pitch on the Stormont Cricket Ground offers a competitive balance between bat and ball. Historically, the brand new ball provides noticeable movement and true bounce for the fast bowlers under overcast skies.
As the sport progresses, batsmen can accumulate runs efficiently in the event that they adapt to the conditions, though accurate lengths remain difficult to take advantage of attributable to standard boundary dimensions. The common first-innings rating at this venue ranges between 160–175.
Weather variables incessantly influence play in Belfast, occasionally causing a rather damp surface early within the match. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first is usually considered the popular option to take advantage of early atmospheric assistance.
Team Evaluation
Ireland:
Ireland looks highly confident under captain Lorcan Tucker. Their batting unit showed excellent discipline in the primary fixture, with Tucker leading from the front with a half-century. Middle-order contributions from Gareth Delany and George Dockrell provide depth and crucial acceleration late within the innings.
Their bowling department was their best asset within the previous encounter, headlined by Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra, who delivered exceptional spells on debut. The hosts’ collective ability to take care of pressure and defend targets gives them a solid psychological advantage.
India:
India is working rapidly to seek out the precise team balance under skipper Shreyas Iyer. The batting relies on the explosive starts of Abhishek Sharma, who scored a quick-fire 50 within the opening game, together with the steadiness of Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson.
On the bowling front, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana spearhead the pace attack effectively, while Axar Patel manages the spin responsibilities. India’s primary objective can be addressing middle-order consistency to make sure they don’t lose momentum during run chases.
Match Prediction
While Ireland possesses the house advantage and considerable momentum, India enters the fixture with substantial international experience and motivation to save lots of the series. The visitors have a deeply balanced lineup able to rebounding from their previous errors.
If the Indian top order can manage the early movement from the Irish pacers, they continue to be strong contenders to post or chase a winning total. Statistics and overall squad depth indicate a slight advantage for the visitors to bounce back.
Prediction: India more likely to win
IRE vs IND: Predicted Playing XI
Ireland (IRE): Ross Adair, Lorcan Tucker (c & wk), Harry Tector, Stephen Doheny, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Tim Tector, Matthew Humphreys, Liam McCarthy, Gavin Hoey, Reuben Wilson.
India (IND): Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
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