India’s brilliant run in the shortest format, which included consecutive T20 World Cup title triumphs, ended with a 0-2 whitewash at the hands of Ireland, who stunned the Shreyas Iyer-led side twice in three
days at Belfast.
India have been one of the most dominant teams in T20Is, excelling in both bilateral series and global tournaments. In fact, this was only their third bilateral T20I series loss since 2020.
Before the Ireland tour, the three-time T20 World Cup champions had gone 14 successive bilateral T20I series without a loss. Their previous series defeat came against the West Indies in August 2023, when they were defeated 3-2 in a five-match contest.
On that tour, India suffered a narrow four-run loss in the series opener at Tarouba before slipping to a 0-2 deficit after losing the second T20I by two wickets two days later.
India responded with consecutive convincing wins to level the series at 2-2, setting up a winner-takes-all decider in Lauderhill, United States. But the visitors couldn’t make a strong case in the do-or-die clash by posting 165/9 on the board.
West Indies bagged the series victory by chasing down the target with two overs to spare.
What happened in India vs Ireland?
It’s the greatest moment in Irish cricket since Kevin O’Brien’s epochal hundred when they defeated England in the 2011 ODI World Cup.
But the humbling of the mighty India will be at a different level for them.
In helpful conditions for pacers, Jai Moondra (3/32) wreaked havoc, dismissing Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks before adding the prized wicket of India skipper Shreyas Iyer to complete a memorable spell.
India managed only 153/9, chasing 155 at the Stormont ground on an eventful Sunday, after the hosts made 154/8.
Towards the end, Harshit Rana (21 off 10 balls) tried his best before being dismissed off the penultimate ball of the game.
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