The Ireland National Cricket Team created history by beating India national cricket team by one run in the second T20I at Stormont, sealing a memorable 2-0 series sweep. It is Ireland’s first-ever bilateral series win over India in any format and ends India’s remarkable 16-series unbeaten run in bilateral T20Is, a streak that lasted 1,050 days.
Ireland posted 154 for 8 after being asked to bat. Playing his 100th T20I, Harry Tector led the innings with a composed 53 off 47 balls. After Ireland slipped to 21 for 2, Tector and Ben Calitz rebuilt the innings with a vital 65-run partnership. Calitz scored a brisk 37 from 23 deliveries to give the hosts a fighting total.
India’s bowlers pulled things back well after the recovery. Debutant Prince Yadav impressed with figures of 3 for 22, while Shivam Dube struck twice in consecutive deliveries to keep Ireland within reach.
India’s chase never got off the ground. The visitors crashed to 19 for 3 inside the first three overs after both openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, were dismissed for golden ducks.
Vice-captain Tilak Varma kept India’s hopes alive with a determined 55 from 46 balls. Dube added a useful 20, but Ireland’s bowlers stayed in control. Player of the Match Jai Moondra ripped through the top order with 3 for 32, while Matt Hollard claimed 3 for 26 to derail the middle order.
The match produced a dramatic finish. India needed eight runs from the final ball to force a Super Over. Prince Yadav smashed Tector for a flat six, but India finished on 153 for 9, falling just one run short as Ireland celebrated a famous victory.
The result has sparked heavy criticism of the Indian team. Former opener Sadagoppan Ramesh questioned the squad’s attitude, saying the players appeared overconfident and treated the tour too casually. Several former players also pointed to India’s failure to adapt to Belfast’s bouncy pitches, cooler weather and larger boundaries.
Captain Shreyas Iyer has also come under pressure after losing his first T20I series in charge. Critics highlighted tactical decisions, bowling changes and the lack of an alternative plan when Ireland built partnerships.
The team management also faced backlash for leaving 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the playing XI despite India’s repeated top-order failures. Fans and experts called it a major selection mistake, especially after the batting collapsed in both matches.
The defeat also added to what many fans described as a “black weekend” for Indian cricket, as it came shortly after the India women’s team was knocked out of the T20 World Cup, making June 28 a day to forget for Indian supporters.