IND Vs IRE Highlights, 2nd T20I: Ireland Stun India By 1 Run, Complete Historic 2-0 Series Sweep

Greetings! We are back with another live blog as India take on Ireland in the second T20I of India's tour of Ireland 2026. Stay tuned for all the live updates from the action in Belfast.

The second T20I between Ireland and India will be televised live in India on Sony Sports Network TV channels and streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website.

India have won the toss and have opted to field.

Ireland (Playing XI): Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(w/c), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, Matthew Hollard

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav

Game on! Tim Tector and Ross Adair are at the crease, with Tector taking strike. Arshdeep Singh has the new ball in hand and will open the attack for India.

WICKET! Arshdeep Singh strikes early! The drop doesn’t cost India much as Ross Adair departs after a quick-fire cameo. Looking to go over the off-side, Adair gets extra bounce and can only manage a thick toe-end that balloons towards extra cover, where Tilak Varma takes a comfortable catch.

Ireland lose their first wicket, with Adair walking back for a blazing 16 off just 7 balls, including a four and two sixes.

Prince Yadav overpitches at 141kph and Lorcan Tucker makes him pay! Shuffling down the pitch, Tucker times the flick beautifully through the leg side to collect a confident boundary. Ireland keep the scoreboard ticking.

SIX! Dropped and then parried over the rope. The catch wouldn’t have counted, but Arshdeep Singh should have done better to save the boundary. It’s a full toss outside off and Tector launches it straight down the ground. Arshdeep charges in from long-off, goes for a one-handed grab, but the ball slips through his hands and goes all the way over the rope.

Arshdeep Singh strikes again and this one comes right at the perfect time in the penultimate over. He smartly keeps it wide outside off as George Dockrell looks to create room and go big, but this time there’s no escape, it’s straight to the sweeper cover.

Axar Patel settles under it safely and takes the catch without fuss. That’s the second breakthrough for Arshdeep, and he’s absolutely nailed this over with control and intent. Dockrell walks back after a handy 19 off 14, including a four and a six.

Ireland finish on 154/8 (20) after a fighting recovery. It was a shaky start, with early wickets leaving them struggling at 58/3, but Harry Tector held things together with a composed fifty while Benjamin Calitz provided the spark with a quick 37 off 23 balls.

Their partnership pushed Ireland back into the contest, only for Shivam Dube’s double strike to halt the momentum just when they looked set for 170-plus.

Tector carried on to anchor the innings through to the end, guiding Ireland to a respectable 154, though they still feel about 15–20 runs short of par.

Among the bowlers, debutant Prince Yadav stood out with an impressive 3/22, while Dube and Arshdeep Singh chipped in with two wickets each. India will back themselves to chase this down, but after the shock of the first T20I, nothing is guaranteed just yet.

Chase time in Belfast! India’s reply gets underway with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma walking out to the middle. Samson takes strike as Ireland begin their defence of 154. Jai Moondra has the new ball in hand and will open the attack for the hosts. Can Ireland strike early again, or will India’s top order set the tone for the chase? The next 20 overs promise plenty of action!

Jai Moondra does it again! What a start for Ireland! First ball, first breakthrough, Moondra is turning into India's biggest early headache. A length delivery comes curling back in, straightens just enough to beat Sanju Samson’s flick attempt and traps him right in front.

The appeal is instant, the umpire raises the finger without hesitation, and Samson has to walk back for a golden duck. Ireland have the dream start in the chase.

Jai Moondra is on fire! Ireland have blown India away in the first over! What a moment of brilliance in the field as well. A short delivery gets big on Abhishek Sharma as he goes for the pull, only to sky a top-edge high behind the keeper. Matthew Hollard from third man charges in, has to completely turn himself around, and somehow completes a stunning 360-degree catch while facing the boundary.

Two balls, two wickets, both Indian openers are gone for golden ducks. Ireland couldn’t have asked for a better start to this chase.

Ishan Kishan gets India moving. A short and wide delivery outside off is asking to be punished, and Kishan throws his hands at it with a crisp cut shot. The ball races away through the gap, beating the diving fielder at cover to bring up India's first boundary of the chase.

Jai Moondra is an India-born left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder who has earned his maiden international call-up for Ireland and is making his T20I debut against India in Belfast.

Born in Tonk, near Jaipur in Rajasthan, Moondra began his cricket journey in India, initially developing as a versatile cricketer who experimented with batting, spin, and medium pace before eventually settling into fast bowling during his college years.

Read full story here.

Another blow for India, and this time it’s a mix-up in the middle! Ishan Kishan’s brief stay comes to an end as a quick single turns into trouble. Ross Adair is sharp in the field and fires in a direct hit to catch Kishan short of his ground. India lose their third wicket, with Kishan walking back after a fighting 12 off 11 balls, including one boundary. Ireland are right back in the contest.

Ireland’s appeal goes upstairs, but Tilak survives! The hosts review for an LBW after the ball beats Tilak Varma’s flick, but there’s no trouble for the Indian batter. UltraEdge shows no spike, and the impact is clearly outside leg stump, decision overturned, not out.

The ball takes the pad and races away fine towards the boundary for four leg byes. A lucky escape for Tilak and a frustrating review for Ireland.

Tilak Varma keeps the scoreboard ticking with a smart pull. A short delivery on leg stump is quickly put away as Tilak swivels and rolls his wrists, dragging it down towards backward square leg for a single. India continue to rebuild after the early storm.

Rain Stops Play! The weather has taken a turn for the worse as the rain gets heavier in Belfast, forcing players to rush off the field and head back to the dugout. The covers are out, and the wait begins.

A chance goes begging! Axar Patel chips one straight back towards Liam McCarthy, but the bowler can’t hold on to the sharp return catch. He gets both hands up in his follow-through, but the ball just won’t stick and rolls away towards mid-off, allowing Axar to sneak through for a single. A costly miss for Ireland.

India finally find the fence. Shivam Dube gets a much-needed boundary after a fumble in the field gifts India their first four of the chase in 7.3 overs. The pressure eases slightly after a difficult start.

Dube keeps things moving with a sharp single. A short-of-length delivery at 110kph sits up nicely, and Shivam Dube goes for the pull, only managing a thick toe-end towards deep square leg. Safe enough to steal a run as India continue to inch closer in this chase.

Ireland believe they have sealed it! Tilak Varma’s brilliant fight comes to an end at the worst possible time for India. The left-hander, who carried the chase on his shoulders, falls just after bringing up a crucial fifty. He tries to push on, but Liam McCarthy takes the catch safely and celebrates with a huge fist pump.

Tilak walks back after a valiant 55 off 46 balls with three fours and a six, but India have lost their biggest hope in the chase. Ireland are just a step away from a famous series win.

Arshdeep takes the single, but that was a risky call! A slower delivery outside off at 119kph, and he goes for the cut, only managing to chop it towards extra cover. No harm done though, he keeps the strike and India keep searching for those final runs.

History Made in Belfast! Ireland have stunned the T20 World Champions, edging India by just one run to seal a famous series victory. Chasing 155, India finished on 153/9 as Ireland ended their 16-series winning streak.

The hosts were outstanding across all three departments, batting, bowling and fielding, making the most of the conditions and delivering under pressure. Despite missing several key players, Ireland produced one of the greatest wins in their cricketing journey.