The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Officially confirmed the schedule for India’s upcoming tour of Ireland and clarified what promises to be an exciting short series in June. The reigning T20 world champions will play a two-match T20I series in Belfast, marking their return to the Northern Irish city after nearly two decades.
BCCI confirms Indian team T20I series schedule for Ireland tour
The secretary of BCTI announced this Devajit Saikia on Saturday, following the earlier confirmation of Cricket Ireland’s summer calendar. Both matches will be played at the same venue, at the same time, in Belfast – making it a compact but high-intensity series.
The devices are planned as follows:
- 1st T20I: 26 June 2026 (Friday) – 19:30 IST / 15:00 local time
- 2nd T20I: 28 June 2026 (Sunday) – 19:30 IST / 15:00 local time
What makes this tour special is India’s return to Belfast after 19 years. Although India have toured Ireland numerous times in recent years – notably in 2018, 2022 and 2023 – all these matches have been played in Malahide, near Dublin. This time, Belfast takes center stage, adding a new dimension to the cricketing relationship between the two nations.
“Team India (Senior Men) will travel to Ireland for a two-match T20I series in June 2026. Having toured Ireland three times in the last eight years (2018, 2022 and 2023). This tour will mark India’s first return to Belfast since 2007,” BCCI said this in its official statement.
For fans in Northern Ireland, this is a rare opportunity to witness top-level international cricket, especially from a high-profile team like India.
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Important series for both India and Ireland amid a packed international calendar
Outside of the schedule, the timing of this series makes it important for both teams — but for very different reasons.
For India, this will be the first T20I assignment later T20 World Cup 2026 lifted the title. After this triumph, the team will look to maintain momentum and fine-tune combinations ahead of a bigger challenge – a full-fledged white-ball tour of England starting in July. In many ways, the Ireland series acts as a bridge between tournaments, giving players a chance to stay in rhythm and experiment with strategies.
India’s calendar leading up to this series is already full. Before traveling to Ireland, they will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series that ends on June 20. Shortly after the Ireland tour, the team will travel to England for a demanding series of five T20Is and three ODIs across multiple venues including Lord;s.
For Ireland, however, the series represents something deeper – a fresh start. The team is currently in transition after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign in which they exited the group stage with just one win. Long time T20I captain Paul Stirling resigned from the leadership, opening the door for a new captain to take over.
On the field, Ireland’s cricket calendar is also expanding rapidly. The India series is part of a busy home summer that includes a one-off Test against New Zealand and a five-match ODI series against Afghanistan at the end of August. In addition, the Irish side is strengthening its global presence with tours to Nepal and the UAE alongside a historic multi-format tour of Pakistan scheduled for early 2027.
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