Ireland registered their first-ever win against India in any format by defeating the Men in Blue by 34 runs in the first T20I of the two-match series in Belfast on June 27, 2026. This victory also marked a hat-trick of T20 World Cup champions losing their very next match after winning the trophy.
Ireland's historic win and batting effort
Put in to bat first by India, Ireland posted a competitive total of 182 for 9 in their 20 overs. Lorcan Tucker top-scored with a 36-ball 50, hitting five fours and two sixes, while Gareth Delany contributed a quickfire 49 off 32 balls, including three fours and three sixes. The Irish innings was built on these two crucial partnerships, setting a challenging target for the Indian batting lineup.
India's batting collapse
India began their chase strongly, reaching 50 runs in just the fourth over. Abhishek Sharma looked in fine form, scoring 49 off 20 balls with seven fours and two sixes. However, the introduction of spinners Matthew Hollard (3/28), Matthew Humphreys (3/38), and Jai Moondra (2/26) triggered a dramatic collapse. From a promising 45 for 1, India slumped to 148 all out, losing their final five wickets for just 48 runs. The Irish bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly to defend their total.
Hat-trick of champions losing next match
This defeat continues a peculiar trend in T20 cricket. It is the third time a T20 World Cup champion has lost their next match after winning the title. In 2022, England lost to Bangladesh by six wickets and subsequently lost the series 3-0. After India's 2024 T20 World Cup win under Rohit Sharma, a young side led by Shubman Gill lost to Zimbabwe, failing to chase 116 and being bowled out for 102 for 9. India, however, bounced back to win that series 4-1.
Pressure on India ahead of second T20I
With only two T20Is in this series, India have limited opportunities to recover. They must level the series on June 28 to avoid a series defeat. The team is also set to play a five-match T20I series against England starting July 1. The start of the Shreyas Iyer captaincy era has been rocky, and the team will be eager to regroup and perform under pressure.
