Ireland SHOCK India In Belfast: What Are Top 5 Upsets In T20I Cricket?

Ireland has made history in Belfast. After eight failed attempts, they finally have their first win over India in international cricket.

Batting first, Ireland posted 182/9, with newly-minted captain Lorcan Tucker top-scoring with a 36-ball fifty. India collapsed to 148 all out in 18.5 overs, losing by 34 runs.

Two debutants did the damage — Rasthan-born Jay Moondra dismissed Sanju Samson off his first ball in T20I cricket, while Matt Holard (3/28) removed Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer in his opening two overs. Abhishek Sharma hit a bright 50, but India’s middle order, comprising Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar, put up poor performances before Matthew Humphreys finished things off with his three-fer (3/38).

Why Ireland beating India is a huge upset?

To put this win into further

context, no bookmaker would have given Ireland any chance for this match. Six of the team’s first-choice starters — Josh Little, Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Barry McCarthy, and Jordan Neill are not even part of the series due to injuries.

India, on the other hand, are not only the winner of the last two T20 World Cups but were also so confident in their full-strength teamto not pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was the top run-scorer in the IPL 2026.

It’ll go down among the biggest upsets in T20I cricket. Below, we look at four more such shocking defeats:

IRE vs ENG, T20 World Cup, MCG Melbourne — October 26, 2022 — Ireland won by 5 runs (DLS)

Irish return to be first on the list.

Ireland claimed an incredible victory against England at the MCG in a rain-interrupted match. Batting first, they posted 157, with captain Andrew Balbirnie scoring 62 off 47 balls. Joshua Little picked up two wickets to reduce England to 105/5 in 14.3 overs before rain arrived.

The DLS method handed Ireland a five-run win, and the result stung all the harder because England went on to win the championship later in the tournament. Ireland had beaten their nosy neighbours and the eventual world champions in one go!

NAM vs SL, T20 World Cup, Kardinia Park Geelong — October 16, 2022 — Namibia won by 55 runs

Namibia hammered Sri Lanka by 55 runs in Geelong in the opening match of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Namibia posted a competitive 163/7 after being asked to bat first, with Jan Frylinck top-scoring with 44 off 28 balls and JJ Smit contributing 31 not out off 16. Sri Lanka’s batting then crumbled to 40/4 inside seven overs.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka’s 29 was the top score as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 108 in 19 overs. Sri Lanka had won their last five matches and lifted the Asia Cup before this game. Namibia reduced the reigning Asian champions to rubble.

NED vs ENG, T20 World Cup, Lord’s London — June 5, 2009 — Netherlands won by 4 wickets

Batting first at Lord’s, England posted a solid total of 162/5, which seemed more than enough against a Netherlands side of that era. However, the Dutch chased it down off the very last ball of the innings, reaching 163/6.

The game will be remembered for the drama on the final ball, where they needed two runs, and an overthrow allowed them to squeeze in the winning run. England posted a decent 163, making the eventual result an even bigger surprise, with home fans left in utter disbelief at cricket’s most historic ground.

#1 USA vs PAK, T20 World Cup Group A, Dallas — June 6, 2024 — USA won by 5 runs (Super Over)

The United States stunned Pakistan in their very first appearance at the marquee tournament in a group fixture in Dallas. Bowling first, they restricted Pakistan to 159/7, with Nosthush Kenjige bagging three wickets. Monank Patel then scored a half-century, while Andries Gous and Aaron Jones helped the USA level at 159/3, taking the game to a Super Over.

USA gathered 18 runs off Mohammad Amir before India-born Saurabh Netravalkar restricted Pakistan to 13/1, handing his team a historic five-run victory. A nation that had never played Pakistan before, that might have failed to qualify for the tournament were they not the hosts, thumped one of cricket’s biggest powers on the grandest stage.