Ireland bowl out T20 World Cup champions India to win first T20I in Belfast

India began their new T20I era under captain Shreyas Iyer with a 34-run defeat against Ireland at Stormont in Belfast on Friday. The loss means India will not win a T20 bilateral series for the first time in three years.

Ireland, missing several first-choice players due to injury and focus on the upcoming 50-over World Cup qualifiers, posted a total of 183 for 9. India, in reply, were bowled out for 149 in 19.4 overs.

Irish debutant bowlers Matt Hollard and Jai Moonda played key roles. Hollard took three wickets, while Moonda claimed two, including the wicket of Sanju Samson and a caught-and-bowled dismissal of Shivam Dube. Moonda, born in Rajasthan, moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a master's degree.

India's chase was led by Abhishek Sharma, who scored 50 off 20 balls, but no other batsman made a significant contribution. The team's batting order struggled from the start, with Samson dismissed in the second over. Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and Washington Sundar also fell cheaply.

Earlier, India had reduced Ireland to 51 for 4 in 7.1 overs, but the hosts added 114 runs in the last 10 overs. Returning pacer Harshit Rana took two wickets, and Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube each took one.

The decision to not include 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the playing XI was explained by captain Iyer, who said they did not want to disturb the top three that had won the T20 World Cup. Sooryavanshi's debut will now be awaited in the second T20I.

Ireland's second-string bowling attack, missing Josh Little, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, and Barry McCarthy due to injuries, proved effective on a pitch with some green tinge. The home team's bowlers maintained discipline and pressure throughout the Indian innings.

The second T20I is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.