Ireland’s Historic Series Sweep Over India After Belfast Nail-Biter Ireland secured a historic

ByDevendra Singh June 28, 2026June 28, 2026

Ireland completed a historic 2-0 international T20I series sweep against India in Belfast, successfully defending 154 runs to win the final match by just 1 run on June 28, 2026.

Ireland left-arm fast bowler Jai Moondra expressed that he was still digesting his selection as the Player of the Match and Player of the Series during the team's historic 2-0 sweep against India. He described his debut taste of international cricket as fantastic and praised his squad peers for keeping him balanced. Moondra disrupted India's pursuit of 155 by dismissing Sanju Samson leg-before-wicket, before removing Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. His three-wicket performance secured a 1-run win and a memorable series triumph for Ireland.

Moondra stated during the post-match presentation that he was still attempting to process the experience. He explained that testing himself against premier global athletes was an incredible feeling. The fast bowler noted that the team plan focused on executing fundamental skills consistently. He credited the squad and management for maintaining simplicity and urged composure through difficult periods.

Regarding his tactical approach against Samson, Moondra noted that he focused on maintaining simplicity and consistency. He acknowledged that international cricket offers minimal room for mistakes, requiring strict adherence to pre-match plans.

Reflecting on his development within the national pathway after relocating to Ireland in 2021, Moondra commented that every athlete encounters obstacles. He emphasized the necessity of perseverance through competitive ups and downs.

The bowler also commended the internal culture of the Irish squad. He remarked that the camp embraced him entirely as one of their own, providing an excellent environment and supportive personnel to fulfill his bowling responsibilities.

This is the first time India has gotten whitewashed by Ireland in international cricket.

The second T20I of the two-game series concluded in Belfast on June 28, 2026. Ireland entered the fixture holding a 1-0 advantage following a 34-run victory in the opening encounter at the same venue.

Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the coin toss and elected to field first. Ireland lost opening batsmen Tim Tector and Ross Adair early in the innings, while skipper Lorcan Tucker contributed 15 runs. Harry Tector anchored the innings with 53 runs off 47 deliveries, hitting 5 boundaries and 1 six.

Ben Calitz contributed 37 runs and George Dockrell added 17, lifting Ireland to a total of 154/8 across their allotment of 20 overs.

India's response began poorly as top-order batsmen Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma registered golden ducks. Wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan fell for 12 runs, and skipper Iyer managed 10. Tilak Varma stabilized the collapse with an innings of 55, supported by Axar Patel's 14 and Shivam Dube's 20.

Harshit Rana struck a quick 21 runs from 10 balls, and Prince Yadav cleared the boundary for a six on the final delivery of the match, but India fell 1 run short. The result confirmed Ireland's first 2-0 T20I series sweep over India.

Moondra concluded with figures of 3/32 to secure the individual series accolades on his international debut.

The Indian cricket community expressed shock at the national team's performance in Ireland, which marked an unexpected start to the Gambhir-Shreyas management era.

Here are the posts

Match highlights

Moondra shines in Ireland's historic win

Moondra served as a central figure in Ireland's series victory, removing Samson, Sharma, and Iyer. He delivered a decisive spell of 3/32 from his 4 overs to protect the narrow margin.

Moondra reiterated that competing against elite batsmen provided an incredible baseline to test his skillset. He emphasized that remaining disciplined with his line and length was critical when facing India's top order.

Journey

Moondra lauds Ireland team, environment

Addressing his integration since moving in 2021, Moondra stated that professional growth requires resilience during competitive fluctuations.

He credited the inclusive squad culture for easing his transition into international cricket, noting that the positive team environment allowed him to focus entirely on performance.

Information

Moondra claims 5 wickets in his debut series

The left-arm quick collected 5 wickets across his debut T20I series. He coupled his second-match performance with figures of 2/25 in the opening game, finishing the series with a bowling average of 11.40 and an economy rate of 7.12. Across 7 total career appearances in the 20-over format, Moondra has taken 15 wickets at an average of 11.73.

Hollard

What about Hollard?

During Sunday's fixture, fellow bowler Matthew Hollard provided vital support by dismissing Axar Patel, half-centurion Tilak Varma, and Suryansh Hegde.

Hollard completed his 4-over spell with figures of 3/26.

The performance followed his international debut in the opening match of the series, where he claimed the Player of the Match award with figures of 3/28. Through his first 2 international appearances, Hollard has collected 6 wickets at an average of 9.00 and an economy rate of 6.75.

Future Outlook

This historic series triumph positions Ireland as a rising force in the shortest format ahead of upcoming ICC tournament cycles. For India, the consecutive defeats expose structural vulnerabilities in their transitioning T20I lineup, putting immediate pressure on new head coach Gautam Gambhir to reassess top-order compositions and death-bowling strategies before their next international assignment.

FAQs

What was the final score of the second T20I between Ireland and India?

Ireland scored 154/8 in 20 overs and restricted India to 153/3 in their 20 overs, winning the match by exactly 1 run to seal the series.

Who won the Player of the Series award?

Ireland's debutant left-arm fast bowler Jai Moondra won both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards after taking 5 wickets across the two games.

Has Ireland ever defeated India in a T20I series before?

No. The 2-0 series result in June 2026 marks the first time in cricket history that Ireland has won a T20I series or completed a bilateral whitewash against India.

Where was the India vs Ireland T20I series played?

Both matches of the two-game international bilateral series were hosted at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.