Team India is set to travel to Ireland for a T20I series this June, serving as a key fixture before their highly anticipated white-ball tour of England.
India to tour Ireland for T20I series
This upcoming series was confirmed by Ireland’s director of high performance, Graham West during an announcement on March 19. The update came alongside the news that veteran batter Paul Stirling has decided to step down from his role as Ireland's T20I captain.
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The scheduling for the Men in Blue is particularly dense, as they are first slated to host Afghanistan for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series concluding on June 20. Immediately following the conclusion of the Afghanistan matches, India will head to Ireland to compete before transitioning to England. The English leg of their tour is scheduled to run from July 1 to July 19, consisting of five T20Is and three ODIs.
According to West, the series against India is a cornerstone of Ireland's summer international program.
“With qualification secured for the T20 World Cup in 2028, Paul’s (Stirling) decision to stand down as T20 captain provides the opportunity for the new captain to begin implementing their style and methodology, starting with the India series in June," West stated in a press release.
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Over the past seven years, India has maintained a consistent presence in Ireland with tours in 2018, 2022, and 2023. These visits have become a highlight of the Irish cricketing summer, reinforcing the strong competitive relationship between the two nations. The matches are traditionally hosted at Malahide, located on the outskirts of Dublin, where India have consistently drawn massive, sell-out crowds.
Paul Stirling steps down as Ireland T20I captain
Meanwhile, in a massive leadership change ahead of the upcoming summer schedule, Paul Stirling announced his decision to step down as Ireland’s T20I captain. Despite relinquishing his duties in the shortest format, Stirling remains a central figure in Irish cricket. He will continue to serve as the captain of the ODI squad.
“It has been a tremendous honour to lead Ireland in this format and something I have been incredibly proud to do. Captaining your country is a privilege that carries great responsibility, and I’m very grateful for the trust and support I have received during my time in the role. I still have a huge amount of ambition as a player and feel this decision will allow me to fully focus on being the best version of myself and making the strongest possible contribution on the field," Stirling said in a statement.