India Schedules June T20I Series in Ireland as Hosts Begin Leadership Transition
The Indian men’s national cricket team will travel to Ireland for a T20 International series in June. The fixtures will serve as direct preparation before India’s white-ball tour of England scheduled for July.
Ireland’s T20I Leadership Change
The series confirmation arrived alongside significant structural news from Cricket Ireland. Veteran batter Paul Stirling has officially stepped down as Ireland’s T20I captain, initiating a leadership transition as the hosts build toward the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Ireland’s Director of High Performance, Graham West, confirmed the June timeline while discussing the captaincy change. “With qualification secured for the T20 World Cup in 2028, Paul’s decision to stand down as T20 captain provides the opportunity for the new captain to begin implementing their style and methodology, starting with the India series in June,” West stated.
Tour Context and Schedule Preview
India has made frequent stops in Ireland over recent Future Tours Programme cycles, consistently drawing capacity crowds near Dublin. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is utilizing this window to finalize combinations ahead of the England series. India will also face the Afghanistan national cricket team prior to their arrival in the United Kingdom.
Upcoming India T20I Schedule Outline
| Opponent | Format | Month | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | T20I Series | Pre-June | TBA |
| Ireland | T20I Series | June | Ireland |
| England | T20I & ODI Series | July | England |
Stirling’s Future with the National Team
Stirling, 35, leaves the T20I captaincy following a challenging 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. However, he will retain his position as Ireland’s One Day International captain and remains available for selection in the shortest format.
“It has been a tremendous honor to lead Ireland in this format and something I have been incredibly proud to do,” Stirling remarked regarding his tenure. “Captaining your country is a privilege that carries great responsibility, and I’m very grateful for the trust and support I have received during my time in the role.”
Addressing his playing future, Stirling emphasized his commitment to the squad. “I still have a huge amount of ambition as a player and feel this decision will allow me to fully focus on being the best version of myself and making the strongest possible contribution on the field,” he added. To view his complete international statistics, fans can visit his ESPNcricinfo profile.