India Playing 11: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Play 2nd T20I vs Ireland?

By Kaif Ansari - Saturday, Jun 27, 2026
Last Updated on Jun 27, 2026 03:42 PM

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Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Play 2nd T20I vs Ireland?: A new era for the Indian cricket team has begun right after the 2026 T20 World Cup. Under the leadership of new captain Shreyas Iyer, Team India failed its very first test. Ireland pulled off a major upset by defeating India by 34 runs in the first T20 match played in Belfast (India tour of Ireland, 2026). Following this defeat, all eyes are now on India's playing XI for the second T20 match scheduled for Sunday. The biggest question is: will young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi get a chance in the next match?

Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Missed Out on the 1st T20I Match?

Cricket fans had hoped that Vaibhav Suryavanshi would get a chance to make his debut in the first T20, but the Indian management placed its trust in the existing opening combination. Team India took the field with the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, forcing Vaibhav to sit on the bench. However, after the crushing defeat in the first match, it seems inevitable that this decision will be reconsidered.

India Playing 11: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Play? And in Whose Place?

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If Vaibhav Suryavanshi is included in the playing XI for Sunday's second T20 match, the question arises: whose place will he take? To bring Vaibhav into the team, either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson would have to sacrifice their spot.

It is speculated that Abhishek Sharma might have to sit out the second match. The main reason for this is to maintain a left-right batting combination. Both Vaibhav and Abhishek are left-handed batsmen, whereas Sanju Samson is a right-handed player. In this scenario, Vaibhav could take on the responsibility of opening alongside Sanju.

Bowling Line-up Changes: Prince Yadav Eyed for T20I Debut

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It is not just the batting; there are indications of changes in the Indian bowling line-up as well. Right-arm fast bowler Prince Yadav, who impressed with his pace in the IPL, could get a chance to make his T20 International debut. Prince has previously made his ODI debut against Afghanistan.

He could replace experienced pacer Prasidh Krishna, who proved expensive in the first T20 match. The Indian team aims to fully test its bench strength ahead of the upcoming major series against England, making this change seem almost certain.

Also Read: Explained: How Can India Women Qualify for T20 World Cup Semifinals?

Pressure Mounts on Captain Shreyas Iyer After Historic Defeat

This series is crucial for Shreyas Iyer, who has returned to the Indian T20 team directly as captain. Iyer, having proven his mettle as a leader in the IPL and domestic cricket, failed completely in the first match. Neither did his bat perform, nor did his captaincy display its usual sharpness.

With this defeat, an unwanted record has also been attached to Iyer's name—under his captaincy, India suffered a T20 loss to Ireland for the first time in history. Iyer certainly would not want India to lose a series to a team like Ireland right at the start of his tenure. To avoid this, he must lead from the front in the second match and score runs with the bat as well.