India's tour of Ireland: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced that the Indian cricket team will face Ireland in a two-match T20 International series in Belfast in June 2026. According to officials, the fixtures have been scheduled for June 26 and June 28, 2026. The move adds intrigue to India’s packed international calendar.

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BCCI logo[/caption]

First appearance in Belfast since 2007

Notably, the upcoming tour will mark India’s first appearance in Belfast since 2007, signalling a return to a venue that has not hosted them for nearly two decades. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah issued an official statement, which read that this short series will precede India’s white-ball tour of England.

It is noteworthy that India have been frequent visitors to Ireland in recent years, touring the country in 2018, 2022 and 2023. Those matches were largely held in Malahide near Dublin, which witnessed strong fan turnout and growing interest in the sport.

Tightly scheduled summer for Indian cricket team

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Indian Cricket Team[/caption]

The Ireland series comes amid a packed schedule for team India in summers. Before heading to Belfast, the team will host Afghanistan national cricket team for a one-off Test, followed by a three-match ODI series, concluding on June 20, 2026. Subsequently, the Men in Blue will travel to England for an extensive white-ball assignment, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs between July 1 and July 19, 2026.

Ireland’s Paul Stirling steps down as skipper

The announcement follows confirmation from Ireland’s high-performance director Graham West regarding the series, alongside news that Paul Stirling has stepped down as the captain for the T20I series. West noted that the India series will prove to be an ideal platform for a new leader to establish their approach ahead of the T20 World Cup 2028.