India's preparations for the upcoming two-match T20I series against Ireland have suffered a blow, with leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy ruled out due to a lingering foot injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Chakravarthy is currently in the final stages of rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) after sustaining the injury during the closing stages of IPL 2026. The mystery spinner will continue his recovery programme and will not travel with the squad for the series.
Varun Chakravarthy's International Career and Injury Details
Chakravarthy, who has taken 73 wickets in 45 T20Is and 10 wickets in 4 ODIs for India, last played an international match in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand on March 8, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The left foot injury has kept him out of action since, and his absence will be felt in the spin department against Ireland.
Series Schedule and New Captaincy Era
The Ireland tour is scheduled from June 26 to June 28, with both matches to be played at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. Each match will start at 5:30 PM IST under lights. The series marks the beginning of a new era in India's T20 setup, with Shreyas Iyer taking over the captaincy following a tactical shift by the selectors. Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain as the management looks to build towards future ICC events.
Squad Highlights and Key Inclusions
One of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement is the inclusion of 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. India have also made a change in the pace department, with Mohammed Siraj rested as part of workload management and Prasidh Krishna drafted in as his replacement. The squad reflects a blend of youth and experience, with the selectors focusing on long-term planning.
Head-to-Head Record Against Ireland
Historically, India have dominated this rivalry, winning all eight T20Is played against Ireland. The Men in Blue's most recent meeting with Ireland came during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India registered a comfortable eight-wicket victory. The upcoming series provides an opportunity for the new-look team to continue this winning streak.
India's Updated Squad for Ireland T20I Series
The full 15-member squad is as follows: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Prasidh Krishna. The team will look to adapt quickly under new leadership and maintain India's strong record against Ireland.
