Ireland play India in the first T20 International on Sunday, June 26 at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin from 9:00 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).

Ireland come into this series on the back of a loss in the final of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier A. Despite the defeat, the Irish cricket team qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. Captain Andy Balbirnie along with Paul Stirling, Harry Tector and Josh Little were key to them reaching the final. 

All-rounder Shane Getkate and off-spinner Simi Singh are rested for the series against India. Conor Olphert has received his maiden T20I call-up to the squad. Opening batsman Stephen Doheny is expected to make his debut for Ireland.

The Indian cricket team arrived in Ireland with a majority of its key players in England for the Test match. India came back from 0-2 down to level the T20I series against South Africa back home. Opening batsman Ishan Kishan along with seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel were impressive in that series.

Sizzling fast bowler Umran Malik is expected to make his debut for India in the first match of this series as Hardik Pandya will lead the Indian team in Dublin.

Ireland vs India 1st T20I odds

Bet365 odds: Ireland: 8.00, India: 1.08

10CRIC odds: Ireland: 7.61, India: 1.08

Betway odds: Ireland: 7.00, India: 1.07

Betwinner odds: Ireland: 7.80, India: 1.07

1xBet odds: Ireland: 8.00, India: 1.08

Note: Odds are subject to change. Please visit betting sites to check and confirm the latest odds.

Ireland vs India head-to-head in T20Is

India have been dominant against Ireland in this format, winning all three matches by a big margin. The Indian cricket team won the two-match T20I series in Dublin in 2018.

The Irish cricket team has won three of its last five T20Is at home while India drew the T20 series 2-2 against South Africa.   

Ireland vs India 1st T20I probable playing XI

Ireland: Paul Stirling, Stephen Doheny, Andy Balbirnie (captain), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wicket-keeper), Curtis Campher, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little. 

India: Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (captain), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Ravi Bishnoi. 

Ireland vs India 1st T20I top picks

Ireland: Andy Balbirnie has scored 1429 runs in his T20I career at an average of 24.22 and a strike-rate of 126.68. In the recently concluded Oman Quadrangular T20I series, the captain was their top run-getter with 136 runs.   

India: Hardik Pandya will be a top pick in this match. The all-rounder smashed 117 runs at a strike-rate of 153.94 in the recently concluded bilateral series against South Africa. The 28-year-old was also Gujarat Titans’ top run-getter in IPL 2022 with 487 runs at an average of 44.27.

Ireland vs India 1st T20I prediction

Ireland have never beaten India in a T20I encounter and that streak is likely to continue in Dublin.

India will be the overwhelming favourites in the encounter. The Indian cricket team is expected to have too much firepower for the hosts to contain.

Ireland vs India 1st T20I playing conditions and weather report

Maximum Temperature: 15°C

Precipitation: 80%

Humidity: 69%

Wind: 16 km/h