Ireland Announce Squad, New T20I Captain For 2-Match Series Against India

The Ireland men’s cricket team has announced wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker as the new T20I captain, starting from the two-match home series against India. Tucker has replaced Paul Stirling, who stepped down from the role after leading the team at the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup.

Tucker has played 91 T20Is, 10 Tests, and 58 ODIs for Ireland, while also captaining the team as a stand-in on a couple of occasions. The 29-year-old, who is in his 10th year of international career, is the captain of his Inter-Provincial side, Leinster Lightning.

“It’s obviously a great privilege, and not one I thought would arrive when I started my career all those years ago,” Tucker said in a statement. “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.”

“My approach to the captaincy is to lead from within and by example. I’d like to think I have good relationships with all the staff and players and can act with honesty and empathy. I feel like it’s my job to bring the best out of them and give them the opportunity to do amazing things for themselves and us as a team. If I ask things of them, I’d want it to be clear that I’d asked those things of myself first,” he added.

Tucker’s first assignment couldn’t have been any more daunting. Ireland announced his promotion while revealing a severely injury-hit squad for the series against the defending World Champions.

Six key players were not available for selection — Stirling (torn calf muscle), pacer Josh Little (stress fracture), pacer Mark Adair (rectus muscle tear), all-rounder Curtis Campher (hand fracture), pacer Barry McCarthy (complete ACL tear), and batter Jordan Neill (shoulder and foot injury).

It paved the way for Matthew Hollard, Jai Moondra, and Reuben Wilson to receive their maiden T20I call-ups.

Ireland squad for India series

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 and Reuben Wilson.

“We can’t disguise the fact that we’re hampered by injury at present, with at least five first team regulars missing due to injury. However, my view in such circumstances is that one player’s misfortune is another players opportunity. As such, we’ve named three uncapped players in the squad of 14,” National Men’s Selector Andrew White said in a statement.

‘Hopefully we can spoil some parties’

Tucker seemed to promote a nothing-to-lose mentality in his team ahead of the encounter, offering due respect for his opponents.

“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. Coming out of the IPL, there will undoubtedly be players who want to make an impact on the international scene. 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,” he said.

India will also field a new captain, Shreyas Iyer, and an exciting debutant, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, in the series. The matches will be played on June 26 and 28 in Belfast.