Match 1st T20I
India Tour of Ireland 2026 (T20Is)
June 26, 2026, 6:00 pm
Ireland Logo
Ireland
Odds » 11
VS.
India Logo
India
Odds » 1.04
Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast

IRE vs IND Today’s Match Prediction & Cricket Betting Tips: India Tour of Ireland, 1st T20I, June 26

Published on: Jun 25, 2026 5:45 pm IST | Updated on: Jun 25, 2026 1:09 pm IST

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Team India will kick off their tour to the United Kingdom with a two-match T20I series against Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. The first of the two games will be played on 26th June, and both teams are eager to get going. Team India, the reigning T20 World Cup 2026 champions, will start as the clear favorites in this game and will look to whitewash the Irish side to gain confidence before heading into the 5-match T20 series against England starting from July 1. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st T20I, IRE vs IND at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast.

Win Probability: IRE vs IND

There’s no doubt that Team India are the outright favorite to win this contest and go 1-0 up in the 2-match series. Ireland has never defeated Team India across formats, and the visitors will look to cling to this magnificent record. The Irish team will gain some experience and confidence playing against a quality Indian team at their home, but when it comes to winning the game, India will start as the favorites. Therefore, expect the

Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the 1st T20I, IRE vs IND at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast

IRE: 6% win chance
IND: 94% win chance

  • Ireland have won two and lost two of their last four completed T20I fixtures.
  • India have won four and lost one of their last five T20Is.
  • Their last T20I was held in March, and it was the T20 World Cup 2026 final, which they won by 96 runs against New Zealand.

Cricket Betting Tips for IRE vs IND- 1st T20I

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to score Over 27.5

All eyes would be on Team India's youngest prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has made a name for himself all around the globe without even playing an international game. Vaibhav is set for his international debut and will be opening the innings. The Orange cap holder of the recently concluded IPL season will look to do what he does best, i.e., see the ball and hit the ball.

Abhishek Sharma to score Over 30.5

The Indian opener will be pairing up with Vaibhav at the top. India's leading run-getter in T20Is in the last calendar year, Abhishek will look to continue with his rich vein of form.

Ishan Kishan to score Over 27.5

Team India's no. 3, who had a brilliant time during the T20 World Cup 2026, will be a key wicket in this game. He has scored 420 runs in his last 10 T20I outings at a berserk strike rate of 202.89.

Lorcan Tucker to score Over 15.5

The newly appointed Irish skipper will be one of the key batters in the side. He has scored 292 runs in her last 10 outings at an average of 32.44. Lorcan will be a key wicket in the Irish batting lineup.

IRE vs IND Today’s Match Prediction

Check out our prediction for the IRE vs IND 1st T20I at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast.

India will look to dominate Ireland and prep up for the England tour

Team India begin their United Kingdom tour with a two‑match T20I series against Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, starting June 26. The reigning T20 World Cup 2026 champions enter the contest as overwhelming favorites and will aim to assert dominance right from the opening game.

With a high‑profile five‑match T20I series against England looming from July 1, India will look to use the Ireland fixtures as the perfect preparation ground. A convincing series win here would not only boost confidence but also set the tone for the tougher challenges ahead.

The spotlight will be on the likes of Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, and newly appointed skipper Shreyas Iyer. Iyer’s leadership will be closely watched as he embarks on his captaincy journey. For Ireland, the task is daunting, but they will look to test India’s bench strength and gain valuable experience. For India, however, the mission is clear: dominate, whitewash, and march into the England series with momentum.

For Ireland, it’s an opportunity to learn from the best

Under the leadership of new skipper Lorcan Tucker, Ireland step into their two‑match T20I series against Team India with the mindset of gaining valuable experience rather than chasing improbable outcomes. India, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, are the outright favorites and will look to extend their unbeaten record against the Irish across formats. For the hosts, however, this contest is about testing themselves against one of the finest sides in world cricket.

Playing at home in Belfast, Ireland will hope to challenge India’s star‑studded lineup and learn from the exposure. Matches against elite opposition provide young players with the chance to sharpen their skills, understand the demands of top‑level cricket, and build confidence for future assignments. Even if victory seems unlikely, competing against India offers lessons in resilience, adaptability, and composure under pressure.

India will aim to go 1–0 up in the series and maintain their dominance, but for Ireland, the focus is on growth. A spirited performance, regardless of the result, could inspire belief within the squad and serve as a stepping stone toward greater competitiveness in international cricket. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.

IRE vs IND Head-to-Head

Matches Played: 8
IND won: 8
IRE won: 0
No Result: 0
Tied: 0
RECENT form INDIA: W L W A W
RECENT form IRELAND: NR A A L L

England registered their first-ever win over Ireland the other day in the first T20I. Now in this head-to-head battle, both Ireland and England have registered a win each, whereas one game ended without a result. 

Team Analysis: Ireland vs India

How will the two teams, i.e., Ireland vs India, fare in the 1st T20I? Let’s take a look.

India (IND)

  • Team India has named a 15-member squad for this series, led by the newly appointed skipper Shreyas Iyer.
  • Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is all set to make his India debut. He will be opening with either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson.
  • As reported, Abhishek and Sanju will play on a rotational basis in this 2-match series to give Vaibhav a chance in both games.
  • Ishan Kishan will bat at 3, followed by new skipper Shreyas Iyer and new vice-captain Tilak Varma.
  • At no 6, we will see either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel, followed by Shivam Dube.
  • Gambhir’s extreme favorite, Washington Sundar, is more likely to get a go in the eleven over Axar Patel.
  • With Kuldeep Yadav unavailable and Varun Chakravarthy missing out due to a toe fracture, Ravi Bishnoi will be the leading spinner.
  • Gambhir’s very own Harshit Rana will play this game with Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna being the other seamers.

Expected Starting 11

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma/Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar/Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna/Prince Yadav

Ireland (IRE)

  • The hosts have named a 14-man squad led by newly appointed skipper Lorcan Tucker.
  • Former skipper Paul Stirling, who relinquished the captaincy after a dismal show in the T20 World Cup 2026, has not been named in the squad as he is nursing an injury.
  • Besides Paul, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Joshua Little, and Barry McCarthy also miss out due to injury.
  • We could see some new faces in the eleven, with Gavin Hoey and Ruben Wilson front-runners to get a game.
  • Stephen Doheny and Ross Adair may open the innings.
  • The openers will be followed by the likes of Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, and Gareth Delany.
  • Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Liam McCarthy, and Ruben Wilson will form the bowling unit.
  • Experienced George Dockrell will be the all-rounder.

Expected Starting 11:

Stephen Doheny, Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c), Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Liam McCarthy, Ruben Wilson

Weather Conditions and Pitch Report

Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st T20I match between Ireland and India at The Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast:

Pitch Report – BelfastWeather Report – June 26, 1:30 PM
The surface at Belfast is known to assist seamers early, with swing and lateral movement due to moisture in the pitch and overhead conditions.Temperature expected around 24 °C, pleasant but slightly cooler under cloud cover.
Batting becomes easier once the ball loses shine; stroke makers can capitalize on short square boundaries.Mostly cloudy skies with intermittent sunshine, creating fluctuating conditions for batters and bowlers.
Average first‑innings score is ~158, but totals above 170 are considered highly competitive here.Humidity levels between 72–93%, which will aid swing bowling, especially in the first powerplay.
Pace bowlers dominate with ~52–61% of wickets, though spinners find grip in middle overs if the surface dries.Rain probability ~33%; showers may interrupt play briefly but prolonged delays are unlikely.
Teams batting first have a slight edge (win % ~56), as chasing under cloud cover can be tricky.Winds ~12 km/h from the east, offering seamers natural assistance with movement through the air.
Historic totals: Highest – 190/5 (Ireland vs Bangladesh); Lowest – 56/3 (Afghanistan vs Ireland).Visibility remains good, ensuring play continues unless showers intensify.
Short boundaries (square ~65 m, straight ~75–80 m) encourage aggressive batting once conditions ease.UV Index moderate (~5–6), so players will need hydration and light sun protection.

Toss Prediction

With cloud cover and humidity aiding seamers early, batting could be tricky in the powerplay. However, the pitch eases out later, rewarding stroke play. Captains winning the toss should bat first, aiming to post a competitive total and put scoreboard pressure on the opposition.

Where to Watch Today’s Match

The online live streaming of the 2nd T20I match of the England Tour of Ireland will take place live on the FanCode App. TV streaming for this series isn’t available in India.

IRE vs ENG: Today’s Match Predictions

Team India are the outright favorite to secure a win in this contest. The world champions’ side will enter this contest under a new leader, Shreyas Iyer, who has taken over the reins from Suryakumar Yadav after India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Ireland, playing at home, will look to do well, but Team India will be the extreme favorites heading into this contest. Therefore, as per our prediction, the visitors, India, are expected to win the IRE vs IND 1st T20I match at The Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast.

Ireland Logo
Odds » 11
VS.
India Logo
Odds » 1.04