New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has confirmed India’s international schedule following the conclusion of IPL 2026, announcing a short T20I series against Ireland in June. The two match series will take place less than a month after the Indian Premier League season ends on May 31.
India will face Ireland in two T20 Internationals in Belfast, marking the team’s return to the city for the first time since 2007. The opening match is scheduled for June 26 at 7:30 pm IST, while the second game will be played on June 28 at the same time. Both fixtures will be hosted in Belfast.
India have regularly toured Ireland in recent years, with previous visits taking place in 2018, 2022 and 2023. Those matches were played at Malahide near Dublin and attracted large crowds, highlighting the growing popularity of cricket in Ireland.
The upcoming series also comes at a time of transition for Ireland’s T20 side. Senior player Paul Stirling recently stepped down as the team’s captain in the format following the side’s disappointing campaign at the T20 World Cup, where Ireland exited in the group stage with just one win in four matches. Despite stepping aside from T20 leadership, Stirling will continue to serve as Ireland’s ODI captain and remains an important member of the national squad.
Ireland’s management views the India series as an opportunity for the new leadership group to begin shaping the team’s approach ahead of future international competitions. The matches will also provide valuable exposure for Ireland against one of the top teams in world cricket.
India’s calendar around the Ireland tour will be busy. Before travelling to Ireland, India will host Afghanistan for a one off Test and a three match ODI series, which is scheduled to conclude on June 20.
After completing the Ireland series, India will head to England for a white ball tour from July 1 to July 19. The tour will feature five T20 Internationals followed by three One Day Internationals, continuing India’s packed international schedule after IPL 2026.
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