Ireland produced one of their most memorable T20 victories by defeating reigning world champions India by one run in Belfast on Sunday, completing a stunning 2-0 sweep in the two-match bilateral series.
After being asked to bat first on a cloudy afternoon, Ireland posted a competitive 154-8 before delivering a disciplined bowling performance to restrict India to 153-9 in a dramatic finish.
The victory handed India their first T20 bilateral series defeat since 2023 and marked the first series loss for captain Shreyas Iyer since taking charge of the side.
Ireland’s bowling attack set the tone early, with Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard claiming three wickets each. Moondra, who was later named Player of the Series, made an immediate impact by dismissing openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the opening over. He struck again in the third over to remove skipper Shreyas Iyer, leaving India in deep trouble at 19-3.
Despite the early collapse, Tilak Varma kept India’s hopes alive with a determined innings of 55. His resistance ensured the contest went down to the final moments, with India needing eight runs from the last two deliveries.
However, Ireland held their nerve under pressure. Harshit Rana attempted to clear the boundary off the penultimate ball but was caught while trying to hit Harry Tector for six, ending India’s chase one run short and sparking celebrations among the home side.
Reflecting on the achievement, an emotional Moondra admitted he was still coming to terms with the result.
“It’s hard to describe… it’s an amazing feeling. I’m still trying to process it.”
India captain Shreyas Iyer praised Ireland’s display after the match, acknowledging the hosts’ execution in challenging conditions.
“Kudos to (Ireland), the way they played. Showed professionalism, had tremendous idea of how the wicket was going to play.”
The result represents a significant milestone for Ireland, who outplayed one of the world’s strongest white-ball teams across both matches of the series.
India will now turn their attention to their upcoming tour of England, where they are scheduled to play a five-match T20 series beginning on July 1 before competing in a three-match One-Day International series.
