The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially confirmed the schedule for India’s upcoming tour of Ireland, bringing clarity to 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 Team India’s T20I series schedule for Ireland tour
The announcement came from BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia on Saturday, following Cricket Ireland’s earlier confirmation of their summer calendar. Both matches will be played at the same venue in Belfast, with identical timings – making it a compact yet high-intensity series.
The fixtures are scheduled as follows:
- 1st T20I: June 26, 2026 (Friday) – 7:30 pm IST / 3:00 pm local time
- 2nd T20I: June 28, 2026 (Sunday) – 7:30 pm IST / 3:00 pm local time
What makes this tour particularly special is India’s return to Belfast after 19 years. While India have toured Ireland multiple times in recent years – specifically in 2018, 2022 and 2023 – all those matches were played in Malahide near Dublin. This time, Belfast gets its moment in the spotlight, adding a fresh 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 past eight years (2018, 2022 and 2023). This tour will mark India’s return to Belfast for the first time since 2007,” the BCCI stated in its official release.
For fans in Northern Ireland, this is a rare opportunity to witness top-tier international cricket, especially featuring a team as high-profile as India.
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Crucial series for both India and Ireland amid packed international calendar
Beyond the schedule, the timing of this series makes it significant for both teams – but for very different reasons.
For India, this will be their first T20I assignment after lifting the T20 World Cup 2026 title. Fresh off that 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, offering players a chance to stay in rhythm and experiment with strategies.
India’s calendar leading up to this series is already packed. Before heading to Ireland, they will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series, which concludes on June 20. Shortly after the Ireland tour, the team will travel to England for a demanding series featuring 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 a transition phase following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, where they exited in the group stage with just one win. Long-time T20I captain Paul Stirling has stepped down from leadership, opening the door for a new captain to take charge.
On the field, Ireland’s cricketing 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 later in August. Additionally, the Irish side is strengthening its global presence with tours to Nepal and the UAE, along with a historic multi-format tour of Pakistan scheduled for early 2027.
