Lorcan Tucker has been named captain of the Ireland men's cricket team for the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, scheduled to take place in August 2026. Cricket Ireland announced the 14-member squad on Tuesday, with Tucker replacing the regular captain Andrew Balbirnie, who has been rested for the series.
Tucker's First Assignment as Full-Time Captain
This marks Tucker's first series as full-time captain, having previously led the side in a one-off T20I against Netherlands in 2023. The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has featured in 45 T20Is, scoring 892 runs at a strike rate of 134.33, and has been a consistent performer for Ireland in the shortest format.
Ireland's head coach Heinrich Malan said, "Lorcan has shown excellent leadership qualities within the group and we are confident he will step up to the challenge. This series against a strong Indian side will be a great test for him and the team."
Squad Overview and Key Inclusions
The squad includes experienced players like Paul Stirling, who has been in fine form in T20 leagues, and all-rounder Curtis Campher. Young talents such as Stephen Doheny and Fionn Hand have also been retained. The pace attack will be led by Mark Adair and Josh Little, with Craig Young providing additional experience.
Notable omissions include Andrew Balbirnie and George Dockrell, both rested, while Harry Tector is unavailable due to a minor injury. The squad features three uncapped players: leg-spinner Ben White, fast bowler Liam McCarthy, and wicketkeeper-batsman Neil Rock.
Series Schedule and Context
The three T20Is will be played on August 12, 14, and 16 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun. This will be India's first bilateral T20I series at home against Ireland, following their two-match series in 2023 which India won 2-0.
Ireland will be looking to improve their record against India, having lost all six previous T20I meetings. However, the team has shown improvement in recent years, notably defeating West Indies and Zimbabwe in T20Is.
Full Ireland Squad for India T20Is
- Lorcan Tucker (captain, wicketkeeper)
- Mark Adair
- Curtis Campher
- Stephen Doheny
- Fionn Hand
- Josh Little
- Neil Rock (wicketkeeper)
- Paul Stirling
- Ben White
- Craig Young
- Liam McCarthy
- Graham Hume
- Andy McBrine
- Ross Adair
The squad will assemble in Dublin for a preparatory camp before departing for India on August 5. The series forms part of Ireland's preparation for the T20 World Cup in 2027, where they will aim to qualify for the Super 12 stage for the first time.
