India have suffered a shock defeat in the 1st T20I against Ireland on Friday (June 26) in Belfast, as the Shreyas Iyer-led team lost the match.
Chasing
183 runs against the Irish, the Indian team were bowled out for 148 runs, as Ireland scripted a historic victory by 34 runs.
The visitors were handed a triple blow early in the chase. Sanju Samson (5), Ishan Kishan (1) and Shreyas Iyer (3) - all went back to the hut within the first five overs. Rajasthan-born Jai Moondra, making his debut for Ireland, struck early with Samson. Abhishek Sharma scored a fantastic half-century as he scored 50 off 20 balls, but departed as Liam McCarthy got the body blow.
Shivam Dube and Axar Patel put up a fight but the Irish bowlers kept on picking wickets in regular intervals. In the end, the visitors got bundled out for 148 runs. Ireland, with the win, have now created history with their first-ever victory against India.
India vs Ireland: Fans React on Social Media
The Indian team have made a disappointing start under new captain Shreyas Iyer. After taking over the role of T20I captaincy, Iyer will have to wait for his first win as India play again on Sunday (June 28). Fans reacted on social media, while experts also vented their frustration after India's defeat.
Former India player Virender Sehwag lamented Shreyas Iyer.
"First of all, I am not happy with Shreyas Iyer's captaincy at all. There was absolutely no point in bringing Washington Sundar into the attack in the 15th over against two set batters. As expected, that over went for plenty of runs. It was a really poor decision. And the less said about India's batting, the better. For the last few years, no one has consistently batted like a proper match-finisher. Cricket is not just about hitting sixes all the time; you have to bat according to the situation and conditions. If the team continues to play such poor cricket, performances like this are inevitable," Sehwag said.
India all out vs mighty Ireland - 148/10
- jesse PINKMAN (@dimpuKLR) June 26, 2026
India was never this clueless under captain SKY 😭🤣 https://t.co/QWHJBNoX3s pic.twitter.com/3FgYhUAReY
History made! 🏏
- Raja Muhammad Haseeb (@MHaseeb_Raja) June 26, 2026
Ireland have defeated India for the first time in any format. A historic win for Irish cricket! 👏🔥#INDvsIRE
Fans have turned on against India head coach Gautam Gambhir and has demanded his sacking after this humbling defeat.
Gautam Gambhir made Fraud Tilak Varma Vice Captain and ignored Rajat Patidar
- 19 runs in 21 Balls in 180+ Chase
- Tilak Varma always plays a test inning
- Can't Hit
- Can't take a single
Tilak Varma playing international cricket is a shame
- There are so many talented and… pic.twitter.com/tl4TvUx408- Raja (@_raja_kumar) June 26, 2026
Sack Gautam Gambhir asap🤬🤬
- Harsh (@HarsH_1822_) June 26, 2026
Such a great team crafted by Gautam Gambhir that got humiliated by Ireland.
- YASH (@nvm_rosh) June 26, 2026
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