Ireland edge India by one run to complete a historic 2-0 sweep
India’s much-changed side were bowled to a halt a single run short at Stormont, handing Ireland a thrilling one-run win and a first ever T20I series victory over the reigning world champions.
Jun 28, 2026
Ireland have done it again, and this time they have a series to show for it. Chasing 155 at Stormont on Sunday, India fell agonisingly short, bowled to a halt on 153 for 9 as Ireland held on to win by a single run. Backed by their first ever victory over India two days earlier, the hosts now own a 2-0 sweep over the reigning T20 World Cup champions, a result that would have sounded fanciful before this week.
The chase was a wreck almost from the first ball. India slipped to 19 for 3 inside three overs, the top order undone by Jai Moondra, the Indian-born seamer who has tormented them all week. He had Sanju Samson lbw and Abhishek Sharma caught for golden ducks and then removed captain Shreyas Iyer, and a powerplay that was meant to set up a routine win instead left India staring at the same questions that had dogged them in the opener.
Tilak Varma keeps India alive
Tilak Varma gave the visitors a route back. His 55 was the one innings of real composure in the India card, a knock built on finding the gaps and resisting the temptation to swing his way out of trouble. For a while it looked like it might be enough, and when Harshit Rana threw the bat at the death for a quick 21 from 10 balls, the equation kept shrinking.
It came down to the final over and, eventually, the final ball. Prince Yadav heaved a six to drag India to the brink, but with one run still needed off the last ball, India could not get it away and the innings closed on 153 for 9. Arshdeep Singh was left stranded on 4, Yadav unbeaten on 6, and Ireland’s players took off across the outfield.
A debutant leads the Irish effort
Ireland had set up the win with the bat earlier in the day. Harry Tector anchored the innings with a patient 53 from 47 balls, holding things together after a shaky start and giving the lower order a platform to push the total to 154 for 8. India were not without their bright spots in the field, with debutant Prince Yadav returning figures of 3 for 22 and Arshdeep Singh chipping in with a couple of wickets, but 154 always looked a few runs more than it should have on a two-paced surface.
The first match had followed a similar script. Ireland recovered from a wobble to post 182 for 9 before bowling India out for 148, the Indian-born debutant Jai Moondra and the rest of the attack pegging the visitors back at every turn. Two days on, the underdogs went one better and finished the job.
Hard questions for a much-changed India
India had arrived in Belfast with a much-changed, experimental side and a clear eye on blooding younger players, and the experiment has handed them a result they will not enjoy explaining. Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi again sat out, his debut put on hold for another tour, while the senior names who did play could not find the consistency to see off an Ireland team playing with nothing to lose.
For Ireland, it is hard to think of a bigger week in their men’s white-ball history. Eight previous meetings with India had all ended the same way. The ninth and tenth did not, and a one-run finish to seal the sweep is about as good as it gets. India move on with plenty to chew over before their white-ball summer in England; Ireland get to enjoy a result that will be talked about for years.