IRE vs IND 1st T20I Commentary - Belfast (26 June 2026)

OUT! CAUGHT! Matthew Humphreys gets his second, and Harry Tector will be a relieved man. Tossed up, on a good length and on middle, Harshit Rana looks to slog it across the line and swings hard but gets it from the toe-end of the bat. It goes high in the air towards deep mid-wicket, where Ben Calitz moves to his left and takes an excellent reverse cup catch under pressure. Ireland can see the finish line now.

Short and outside off, Prasidh Krishna cuts it straight to point.

Flatter, short again, around off, Prasidh Krishna punches it to sweeper cover for a run.

Quicker one, shortish and just outside off, Arshdeep Singh swings blindly and misses.

OUT! TAKEN! History has been created in Belfast as Ireland beat India for the very first time in international cricket. IRELAND WIN BY 34 RUNS. Matthew Humphreys tosses it up, full and on middle, Arshdeep Singh looks to slog it again but mistimes it high in the air towards long on. Tim Tector runs forward, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a fantastic catch, tumbling to his right. All the Irish players run to Tector, and the celebrations begin on the pitch and in the stands as well, with the fans witnessing this special moment.

Back of a length, just outside off, Arshdeep Singh punches it straight to extra cover, where the fielder makes a half-stop. A single taken.

Short of a length and around off, angling away, Harshit Rana slashes hard at it but fails to connect.

SIX! Harshit Rana will not go down without a fight here! Jai Moondra bangs this into the deck, on off, takes pace off. Rana picks up early, waits for it and whacks it over the wide long on fence for a biggie. 38 needed in 15 now.

Good comeback! Hard-length delivery, just on off, pace on. Harshit Rana backs away to cut but misses.

And again! Jai Moondra keeps the length short, pushes the line wide outside off, gets good bounce again. Harshit Rana throws his bat at it but loses his shape and misses again. He has a polite enquiry for a wide but gets nothing.

WIDE! A bouncer, on leg and way too high, Harshit Rana ducks under it. Wided.

DROPPED! Harshit Rana survives! This is dug into the surface, around off. Rana clears his front leg to swat down the ground but gets a top edge. It goes in the air straight towards long on, where Harry Tector settles under it but spills it. Single taken by Rana and he will keep the strike.

Floated, full and on off, Axar Patel lofts it down to long off for a single.

Flighted, full and on off, Harshit Rana drives it straight to extra cover.

Two dots and pressure builds even more! Looped up, full and on middle, Harshit Rana jams it out to extra cover again.

Darts in a yorker, outside off, Harshit Rana squeezes it out to point for a run.

OUT! CAUGHT! Is that the final nail in the coffin? Ireland will want to believe so. Gareth Delany dishes out a googly, full and outside off. Axar Patel clears his front leg to launch it down the ground, but does not get fully underneath it and hits it against the turn. It flies flat towards long on, where Tim Tector gets low on his knees and takes a good catch. Ireland are two wickets away from the win now.

Quicker, full and on off, Arshdeep Singh drills it to long off for one. 45 needed in 18 balls now.

Fuller delivery, angling into the pads, Axar Patel flicks it away wide of deep mid-wicket. Ben Calitz quickly runs to his left and keeps the ball inside the playing area. Two taken.

Well bowled! Jai Moondra bangs this into the pitch, on middle, takes off a bit, Axar Patel backs away to cut but gets beaten due to the extra bounce.

Pitched up and around off, Axar Patel drills it to the left of mid off for a single.

Short of a length and on middle, Shivam Dube stands tall and pulls it wide of deep square leg. The fielder runs to his right and dives to make a fine stop. Keeps it down to just one.

Dug into the surface again, on middle, Axar Patel heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one. Can Jai Moondra finish well?

WIDE! Tries the slower bouncer, but bowls this way, way outside off, Shivam Dube makes an easy leave. Wided.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! The extra ball brings in a big wicket for Ireland. Jai Moondra from over the wicket, hits the deck hard, on middle and off, gets some lift from the surface. Shivam Dube looks to work it across the line but he is surprised by the bounce and the ball hits him high on the bat. It lobs up towards the bowler, where Moondra dives forward to take a superb return catch. India are now 135/7, requiring 48 runs from 24 balls.

FOUR! In the gap! Floated up, a bit too full and wide as well. Axar leans on and cracks the drive to the left of the extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Beaten! Pushes it through and drags the length back, around off. Axar tries to work it across the line but the ball straightens to beat him on the outside edge.

Wide! Short and sprayed down leg. Axar misses out on the tickle. A good take to his right by Lorcan Tucker.

PUT DOWN! A sharp chance, and it was one of those that either they stick, or they don't. It looks like Matthew Humphreys has suffered a cut on his left hand. Fuller and on off. Axar leaves nothing in the tank as he slams it back at the bowler. It gets to Humphreys at waist height to his left. Matthew gets both hands to his left. It catches him on the left hand before deflecting away to mid-wicket. Single taken.

Flat and short, on middle. Dube clips it wide of deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Dug into the deck, on off. Axar presses back and is taken aback as the ball gets big on him. He mistimes the pull to deep mid-wicket for one.

SIX! Shivam Dube has absolutely picked the bones out of it. Loopy ball, fuller and wider on off. Dube accepts the invitation as he uses his long reach to good effect and clubs it with the spin over mid-wicket for a biggie. 14 runs off the over. India require 54 from 30 balls.

Hits the back of a length, around leg. Dube hangs back and pats it towards wide mid on for a single.

Across off, on a back of a length. Axar presses back for the cut but the ball skids through and beats him for pace. It goes under the blade on its way to the keeper.

Bashes the hard length and gets a good lift off the deck, over middle. Axar rises with the bounce and fends it down.

Rolls his fingers over the ball, on a good length, outside off. Axar chops it to the left of point and crosses over.

A slower, short ball, on off. Dube is early into the pull and toe-ends it to long on for one more.

Bowls the off-cutter, on a length, on off. Axar knocks it towards extra cover and picks up a single. A memorable debut for Matt Hollard. He finishes with figures of 4-0-28-3.

SIX! Clean as a whistle. Tossed up, on the off stump from around the wicket. Right in the slot and Dube presses forward before launching it over long on for half a dozen.

Shorter and on middle. Dube turns it through mid-wicket for a single.

Keeps it short, on off, Axar works it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Darted in, on a nagging length, on middle. Dube wrists it in front of square on the leg side for another single.

Full and quick, wide on off. Axar throws his hands at the ball. He loses his shape and slices it uppishly but away from cover-point to his left. They cross.

Full and near the tramline on off. Dube squeezes it out to extra cover and keeps the strike with a single. A six followed by 5 singles. 72 needed off 42.

A big swing and a miss! Cross-seam ball, going away with the angle. Sundar stays rooted to the crease and swings to go over mid off but fails to connect.

Dug in short, over middle. Washington walks inside the line and gets on his knees to play the scoop but misses.

Off-cutter, across off, on a good length. Sundar stands tall and lofts it on the rise to the left of deep point for a couple of runs.

Into the deck, outside off. Sundar drags the pull to wide long on and gets to the other end.

Bowled on a hard length, over middle. Dube pulls it to deep mid-wicket. With this single, the 100 comes up for India.

OUT! CAUGHT! High but nowhere close to being long enough. Wicket number 3 for the debutant and he has his hands aloft in celebration. Takes pace off and bangs it into the deck, on off. Sundar stands tall to play the pull. The bat turns in his hand and it goes only as far as deep mid-wicket. Ben Calitz steadies himself under it and gobbles it up. India are 100/6, needing 83 runs in 48 balls.

Not in control but safe. Floated up, on off. Sundar reaches out in front to go inside out. Spoons it behind the cover fielder and takes a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! An ambitious attempt but it does not come off for Tilak Varma. India slip further. Flatter and shorter, on middle. Varma goes for the reverse but the ball spins back a bit and catches the upper half of the blade. It balloons to backward point, where Ross Adair takes the easiest of catches. India are now 90/5, needing 93 runs in 58 balls.

Tossed up, on off, Dube clips it to mid-wicket.

Drops it short, on off. Shivam rocks back and punches it past cover for a run.

Near the tramline on off, stays short. Washington reaches out and ends up chopping it to behind square on the off side for one.

FOUR! Gets it through! Keeps it short and pushes it through, outside off. Dube hangs back and gets his hands through the ball to cut it between short third and backward point for his first boundary. 87 required off 54 balls.

Short of a length and on middle, Washington Sundar pulls it but not with much timing and that saves him. The ball goes on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller and on off, Tilak Varma drives it to long off for a run.

Nails the yorker, on middle, Washington Sundar just about gets his bat down to dig it out towards short third for another run.

Appeal for LBW, but turned down! Liam McCarthy goes a bit fuller, on middle and leg. Tilak Varma steps across to clip it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. It rolls towards short fine and the batters cross for a leg bye. Lorcan Tucker takes a review here. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved, and Ball Tracking shows that it has pitched outside leg. The on-field call of Not Out remains. Ireland lose a review.

Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Washington Sundar gets rushed again and mistimes his swat down to long on for one.

Hard length and on off, Tilak Varma steers it towards point and sets off for the run, but he is sent back. The fielder has a shy at the batter's end but misses with Tilak putting in a dive. A direct hit would have been interesting here.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Tilak Varma defends on the front foot.

Short and around leg, Tilak Varma stays back and clips it through square leg for a single.

Flatter, short and on leg, Washington Sundar misses his flick as the ball goes off his pads towards short fine. Leg bye taken.

Tossed up, on off, Tilak Varma uses his feet, takes it on the full and drives it to sweeper cover for a run.

Flighted, full and on middle, Washington Sundar advances and drills it to long off for one.

Pushed through quicker, short and around off, bounces a bit more than Tilak Varma expects. He fails to cut it away.

Fuller one and outside off, Tilak Varma steps across and bunts it back to the bowler.

Short of a length and around off, Tilak Varma rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FIFTY FOR SHARMA! Off just 19 balls! Half-century number 11 for him in T20Is. Back of a length and on middle, Abhishek Sharma heaves it to deep square leg for a run.

WIDE! A bouncer, on middle and leg but too high, Tilak Varma lets it go. Wided.

Much fuller and on middle and off, Tilak Varma knocks it back to the bowler.

Pitched up, on middle, Tilak Varma tucks it through mid-wicket for another run.

OUT! CAUGHT! Fifty and out for Abhishek Sharma! Liam McCarthy gets his maiden T20I wicket, and it is a big one as well. He bangs this into the pitch, on middle, shoots up off the deck a bit. Abhishek Sharma looks to take it on with the big heave across the line, but his bat turns in his hands. He gets no power on the shot as it flies straight to deep mid-wicket, where Ben Calitz takes a good catch. India are 80/4, needing 103 from 72 balls.

A loopy low full toss, on leg, Abhishek Sharma clips it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Drops it short and on leg, Tilak Varma nudges it towards mid-wicket for a run. They think about the second, but the keeper, Lorcan Tucker is quick to get to the ball and keeps it to one.

Flighted, full and on middle, Abhishek Sharma looks to drive it away but toe-ends it towards long on for another run.

FOUR! Excellent shot! Floated, full and around off. Tilak Varma skips down the track, stays leg side of the ball and laces it through covers for a boundary.

Drags his length back, on off, Tilak Varma dabs it in front of short third.

Short again, outside off, Tilak Varma cuts it towards point for one. 107 required from 78 balls.

OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Matt Hollard strikes again and gets rid of the Indian skipper. Fuller delivery, on middle, angling in a bit. Shreyas Iyer steps across, picks it up nicely and whips it powerfully, but unfortunately, he hits it straight towards deep square leg. George Dockrell moves a bit to his right, crouches low and takes a fantastic catch with the ball travelling at him quickly. India are 60/3, chasing 183 runs.

FOUR! Edged away! Back of a length and just around off, Tilak Varma looks to guide it away but it catches the outer half of the bat and flies to the right of short third for a boundary.

Short of a length and on off, angles away with extra bounce, Tilak Varma tries to cut it away but misses.

Hits the length hard, on off, Tilak Varma gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Pace off, digs it into the surface, around off, Tilak Varma steps across and cuts it to point.

FOUR! Finds the gap! A half-volley, around off. Tilak Varma leans onto his drive nicely and creams it through covers for a boundary. India finish the Powerplay with 68/3 on the board.

Full and angling away. Iyer leans on and drives it straight to short cover.

Across again, on a length. Shreyas guides it to backward point.

Bangs it in short, over the right shoulder. Shreyas Iyer swivels for the pull but the ball gets big on him. He is not in control of the shot but it drops well in front of deep square leg. They cross.

Another bumper, pace taken off, on middle. Sharma taps the ball on its head and plays it wide of point, where the fielder dives to his left and makes the stop. Just a single.

Nice and tight, on a good length, on middle. Iyer punches it on the up back towards the bowler.

Slower one, good-length delivery, on middle. Iyer shuffles across and turns it through square leg for a single. 

Flirting with the tramline, on a back of a length. Kishan lets it go.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Matt Hollard is thrilled to bits. Not a wicket on the first ball like his fellow debutant, Jai Moondra, but the second ball will also do nicely. Cross-seam ball, fuller and on middle and leg. Kishan crouches and has a swipe across the line. The ball moves away off the seam to catch a top edge. It goes a long way up and behind the wicket. The keeper, Lorcan Tucker, turns around and settles himself under the skier and takes a fine catch.

Wide! On a shortish length, down leg. Iyer misses out on the pull. An acrobatic take to his left by Lorcan Tucker.

On a length, honing in on the off stump. Iyer drops it in front of cover-point and takes a quick single to get off the mark.

Going away, on a good length. Abhishek chops it down to point.

FOUR! One bounce and over the ropes. The 50 is up for India. Matt bangs it into the deck but offers width for the left-hander to work with. Sharma stands tall and smacks with a horizontal bat over mid off. Oh, the debutant has overstepped. Given as a No Ball. Free Hit coming up.

Wide! Matt Hollard goes searching for the wide yorker but spills it beyond the tramline. Abhishek Sharma reaches out to slice it away but misses. Free Hit continues.

FOUR! Abhishek takes the aerial route again. Moving away with the angle, on a length. Sharma frees his arms and slams it away. Gets it off the bottom part but manages to clear cover with ease and picks up another boundary.

A dot to end the over. From around the wicket, on a nagging length, around the leg stump. Abhishek backs away to force it away on the off side. Ends up chopping it down on the turf and the ball bounces on his helmet before falling to the ground. A wicket and 12 runs off the over. 126 needed off 96.

FOUR! Welcomed with a boundary. Angling away, on a good length. Abhishek leaves nothing in the tank as he swings hard at the ball. Gets it off the inner half and it races past mid-wicket.

Pushed across, on a good length. Abhishek stays back and lofts it over extra cover. He does not quite connect well but manages to clear the in-field. The mid off fielder gives chase and hauls it in. Two runs taken.

FOUR! Finds the fence this time. Fuller and outside off. Abhishek keeps a still head and just swings through the line. He goes over mid off and picks up a boundary.

FOUR MORE! Width offered and Abhishek cashes in. Shorter and wider on off. Sharma throws his hands at the ball and flays it over backward point for another four.

FOUR! Same region, same result. McCarthy spots Abhishek giving him the charge and he digs it in short. Sharma is cramped for room, but he arches back and slaps it over backward point for the third four in a row. 18 runs off the over with a ball to go.

Wide! Pace off and into the surface, this drifts beyond the tramline on off.

In the air...but safe. Liam McCarthy sticks to the short ball and gets it around the left shoulder. Abhishek takes it on with the pull and gets it over mid-wicket. Tim Tector goes after it from mid on. He flings himself at the ball but the ball drops out of his reach. Two runs taken. 21 runs off the over.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Jai Moondra strikes with his first ball in international cricket. Stuff of dreams, and he is over the moon. On a back of a length, outside off. Samson shapes up to cut it late and behind point. The ball comes back a bit to catch the inside edge and it crashes back onto the stumps. India are 16/1, chasing 183.

Slanting into the pads, on a good length. Kishan is beaten for pace on the flick and wears it on the pads.

Nearly carried! Hits the deck hard, over off. Kishan gets on his toes to deal with it. The ball kicks up a bit and Ishan rides the bounce to steer it to short third.

Moving away, fuller in length. Kishan caresses it to deep point for a single.

SIX! Easy pickings! Too full, too straight, sliding onto the pads. Abhishek plays the pick-up shot nicely and sends it way over the deep backward square leg fence.

Drags the length back, a little too straight again, on the pads. Abhishek is rushed and fails to help it away. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes behind on the leg side.

Pushed through, on a length, on middle and leg. There is a bit of an away drift. Abhishek drives it to long on to get himself and India up and running in the chase.

Close to being called a wide. Near the tramline, on a length. Samson lets it go, thinking it is a wide but it is called a fair delivery.

FOUR! Samson opens his account. Speared in, full and on middle. Sanju stays back and opens the bat face to carve it over the cover fielder for a boundary.

Shorter and angled into the right-hander. Samson pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! That has gone back a long way. Dropped short by Matthew Humphreys, on leg. Abhishek does not miss out as he swivels and pulls it behind square leg for a biggie.

FOUR! Not from the middle, but it does the job. From over the wicket now, fuller and outside off. Abhishek presses forward and swings at it. Slices it more off the outer half and goes over cover for a four.