After five years of toil in Ireland, Jai Moondra made his debut for the Irish team against India in the first T20I of the two-match series in Belfast.
The left-arm pacer made a memorable debut and dismissed Sanju Samson off the very first ball he bowled in international cricket. Moondra also dismissed Shivam Dube, who could have single-handedly won the game for India. Moondra's efforts came in a historic win for Ireland as they defeated India for the first time in history. A day after Ireland's memorable win, Moondra said that he will remember this moment for the rest of his life. "At the top of my mark, I was just trying to calm the noise down and trust my rhythm. Once I ran in, it was all instinct, and to take a wicket with my first ball was an unreal feeling. Now, to have been part of Ireland’s first-ever win over India makes it even more special, it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s a proud moment for the team, and for Irish cricket," the 29-year-old told reporters. Moondra moved to Ireland for higher studies in 2021. He continued to play local cricket in Ireland and finally made it to the national team in 2026. As destiny would have it, he made his debut against the country where he was born and spent his life.
Must-win game for India
The 2nd T20I is a must-win game for the Men in Blue. A defeat here would see them lose their first T20I bilateral series since 2023. India lost their previous T20I series against West Indies in 2023 under Hardik Pandya. The reigning T20 World Cup Champions didn't lose a bilateral series under Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy.
Suryakumar was sacked as captain and dropped from the squad before the Ireland series. Shreyas Iyer, who hadn't played a T20I since December 2023, replaced him. Iyer lost his first game as the India captain.
The second T20I will be played on Sunday (June 28). India couldn't practice on the eve of the all-important game due to a wet outfield.
