India tour of Ireland later this month is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited cricket events of the Irish summer. The reigning T20 World Cup champions will travel to Belfast for a two-match T20I series before beginning their white-ball assignment in England, with both matches expected to attract packed crowds and widespread attention.
The series has already generated considerable buzz due to India’s popularity and recent success on the international stage. However, Cricket Ireland officials believe the presence of one of India’s newest stars could elevate interest even further. The youngster has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in world cricket following a remarkable rise over the past few months and is expected to be one of the biggest attractions when the teams meet in Belfast.
Cricket Ireland official welcomes Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s inclusion
Speaking to Revsportz, Cricket Ireland High-Performance Centre Head Graeme West admitted that the selection of Vaibhav Suryavanshi has added another layer of excitement to India’s upcoming visit. The 15-year-old earned his maiden senior India call-up after a sensational IPL 2026 with Rajasthan Royals (RR), finishing with 776 runs in 16 matches at a staggering strike rate of over 237.
His fearless batting and record-breaking performances turned him into one of the biggest stories of the season and earned him places in India’s squads for the Ireland and England T20I tours. West revealed that Ireland closely followed Vaibhav’s performances during the IPL and expected him to be rewarded with a national call-up.
“We followed the IPL very closely and saw how well he performed. It certainly felt like there was a good chance he would be selected. His inclusion definitely adds extra profile and attention to the series. Playing against the world champions is already a major challenge, and having a young player in such good form only increases that challenge. Our analysts will undoubtedly be working hard to develop plans for him before he arrives in Belfast,” West said.
Vaibhav’s rise continues to attract global attention
Vaibhav is one of the brightest young talents in the game and made him the youngest male cricketer to receive a call-up to India’s senior national team. The left-handed opener has continued to impress since the IPL as well. Representing India-A in the ongoing tri-series in Sri Lanka, he followed up his first outing with a rapid 44 off just 22 deliveries against Afghanistan-A, once again showcasing the fearless batting style that has earned widespread praise.
West also believes Vaibhav’s presence could further boost fan engagement for the Ireland series, which was already witnessing strong ticket demand before India’s squad announcement.
“The interest generated by India’s visit was already significant before his selection. Ticket sales reflected that. However, if any tickets remain available, his inclusion will certainly create even more demand,” West stated.
India and Ireland will face off in a two-match T20I series beginning on June 26 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, with Vaibhav expected to be one of the biggest attractions of the tour. Other big names featuring in the squad include Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Ishan Kishan, all of whom bring strong IPL experience and will be key players to watch during the series.
