New captain leads Ireland T20I squad for India series

Cricket Ireland announced their 14-player squad to take on India in a two-match T20I series in Belfast later this week.

Former vice-captain Lorcan Tucker has been named full-time captain of the T20I side, while Matthew Hollard, Jai Moondra and Reuben Wilson could all be in contention to make their T20I debuts.

Wilson made his Test debut for Ireland against New Zealand last month in their one-off meeting.

Ireland T20I squad v India: Lorcan Tucker (c), Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Reuben Wilson.

Ireland will be without some of their experienced campaigners as Josh Little (stress fracture), Mark Adair (rectus muscle tear), Paul Stirling (torn calf muscle), Curtis Campher (hand fracture), Barry McCarthy (complete ACL tear) and Jordan Neill (shoulder and foot injury) all have been ruled out due to injuries.

Tucker has 159 appearances across formats for Ireland and was also a stand-in skipper at the Men's T20 World Cup earlier this year when Paul Stirling was ruled out due to injury.

Speaking on his appointment, Tucker said, “It's obviously a great privilege, and not one I thought would arrive when I started my career all those years ago.

"There's a feeling of responsibility to the playing group and organisation to represent them well and also to all the other captains who came before me.

"I look back with admiration at all the captains that have led Ireland in the past and am proud to now join them.”

Tucker hopes to cause a few upsets in their upcoming series against India, his first at the helm of the T20I setup.

“India are an absolute powerhouse when it comes to T20 cricket.

"We are fortunate to be able to measure ourselves against them right at the start of our new cycle and there will be no tougher challenge for our group than what they will offer.

"I hope that we can spoil a few of those parties they might have planned and show that we also are here to make an impact.”

Tucker also stressed on including more young players into the T20I setup as Ireland begin a new cycle of preparation for the next Men’s T20 World Cup in 2028.

“My main goal is to bring that next group of international cricketers through and into our system. I've been lucky to have some very special moments, none more so than in the T20 format, and I know there are a group of young men waiting to create those same special moments for themselves.”

“We are fortunate to have time on our side in this format, and I'd love to be at that 2028 T20 World Cup knowing I'd given those lads the chance to make this job and this team their own.”

Schedule of Ireland’s T20I series against India:

First T20I: June 26, 2026, Belfast, 1:30PM

Second T20I: June 28, 2026, Belfast, 1:30PM

*All times in local time