Ireland and India will lock horns in the second and final T20I of the India Tour of Ireland 2026 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast, on June 28. Ireland enter the contest with a 1-0 lead after a memorable victory in the series opener, while India face a must-win situation to avoid a rare bilateral series defeat against the Irish side.
Match Details
Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Date: June 28, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM IST, 5:30 PM PST, 12:30 PM GMT
Team Overviews
Ireland produced one of the finest performances in their T20I history by defeating India by 34 runs in the opening match. The victory delighted the home crowd and has placed the hosts on the verge of a historic achievement. A win in the second T20I would secure Ireland’s first-ever bilateral T20I series victory over India and further underline their growth as a competitive international side.
The Irish players executed their plans effectively in the series opener. Their bowlers consistently applied pressure and exposed India’s fragile middle order. With confidence running high, Ireland will look to maintain the same intensity and finish the series on a winning note.
India, meanwhile, endured a disappointing start to the tour. Despite a blazing knock from Abhishek Sharma, the visitors failed to build partnerships and suffered a batting collapse that ultimately cost them the match. The defeat exposed concerns in the middle order and may force captain Shreyas Iyer and the team management to consider changes ahead of the series finale.
The Men in Blue possess enough talent to bounce back strongly, but they must deliver a far more complete performance if they hope to level the series.
Key Players
Abhishek Sharma will once again be India’s biggest batting threat. The aggressive left-handed opener dominated the powerplay in the first T20I and raced to a rapid half-century off just 20 balls. His fearless stroke play can change the course of a match within a few overs, and India will hope he receives greater support from the rest of the batting lineup.
Shreyas Iyer also faces an important challenge as captain. Leading a relatively new-look T20I side, he will need both tactical sharpness and leadership qualities to guide India back into the series.
For Ireland, Jai Moondra emerged as one of the standout performers in the opening encounter. The young left-arm pacer made an immediate impact by dismissing Sanju Samson with his first delivery in international cricket before removing Shivam Dube later in the innings. His disciplined spell played a major role in Ireland’s victory.
Captain Lorcan Tucker will also be crucial as he looks to lead Ireland towards a historic series triumph.
Head-to-Head Record
Ireland and India have faced each other nine times in T20 Internationals.
Matches Played: 9
Ireland Won: 1
India Won: 8
No Result: 0
First-ever Fixture: June 10, 2009 (India won)
Most Recent Fixture: June 26, 2026 (Ireland won)
Although India still dominate the overall rivalry, Ireland’s victory in the previous match has added a new dimension to the contest.
Pitch Report
The surface at Stormont is expected to become slower as the match progresses. Batters may find it easier to score during the first innings, while chasing could become increasingly difficult due to the sluggish nature of the wicket.
Fast bowlers are likely to benefit from the lack of pace in the surface, especially if they vary their lengths and force batters into attacking shots. The conditions suggest that batting first could be the preferred option after winning the toss.
Teams that post competitive totals and apply scoreboard pressure may hold a significant advantage.
Probable Playing XIs
Ireland (Captain: Lorcan Tucker): Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c & wk), Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, Matt Hollard.
India (Captain: Shreyas Iyer): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson/Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
Live Streaming and Broadcast
India: JioStar Network channels on television and JioHotstar app and website for live streaming.
Pakistan: Official broadcast details have not been specified in the available match information.
United Kingdom: Official broadcast details have not been specified in the available match information.
Australia: Official broadcast details have not been specified in the available match information.
Global Viewers: JioHotstar app and website are listed as the official streaming platforms in the available match details, subject to regional availability.
Probable Match Scenarios
If India bat first, they are expected to score between 210 and 220 runs, with a projected powerplay score of 70-80. Their top order possesses the firepower to dominate the early overs and set a challenging target.
Ireland are projected to score between 180 and 190 runs if they bat first, with a powerplay return of 55-65. Their confidence after the opening victory could help them approach the game with greater freedom.
Given the expected behavior of the pitch, the team batting first may enjoy a slight advantage. The middle overs and death bowling phases are likely to play a decisive role in determining the outcome.
Match Prediction
Ireland deserve significant credit for their outstanding performance in the series opener and will enter the second T20I with momentum and confidence on their side. Their bowlers exposed India’s weaknesses and successfully defended a competitive total.
India, however, remain the stronger side on paper and possess enough quality to respond. The visitors are unlikely to repeat the same mistakes, and their experienced players will understand the importance of producing a better all-round display.
While Ireland have already proven they can challenge India, the visitors are expected to come back strongly in a must-win encounter. Considering the squad depth, batting strength, and overall experience, India enter the second T20I as slight favourites to level the series, though Ireland are more than capable of producing another upset.
