Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not playing India vs Ireland 1st T20I? Check out IND playing XI
A two-match T20I series between India and Ireland has kicked off at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. In the first T20I, Shreyas Iyer, the new T20I captain, won the toss and decided to bowl first. This is the first match the Indian team played after their T20 World Cup 2026 victory. Indian cricket fans were particularly eager to see the 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the playing XI for this match; however, during the toss, Shreyas Iyer stated that, unfortunately, Sooryavanshi is not playing today and will get his chance when the time is right.
Unfortunately, no. He’s a gun player. But obviously, we’ve got tremendous experience in the squad who have done brilliant in the past couple of series for India. So we are backing majority of our cricketers who have been doing absolutely marvellous throughout the season. So I think he’outside the leg-stump get his opportunity when the time comes. But for now, we are going with three genuine seamers, one all-rounder, and two spinners.
Apart from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prince Yadav, Suryansh Shedge, and Ravi Bishnoi are also not part of the playing XI for this match. Shreyas Iyer has returned to the team and has also taken over the captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav. Meanwhile, Harshit Rana is making his comeback in this match following an injury sustained during a T20 World Cup 2026 practice match.
The rest of the India playing XI is almost the same who featured in the T20 WC. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings. Ishan Kishan will feature at 3. Then Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube will feature in the middle order. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are the two spin-bowling all-rounders. While Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna are 3 pacers.
India playing XI against Ireland
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
