India squad for Ireland T20 series 2026

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been handed his maiden senior call-up as the 15-year-old was included in the 16-member Indian squad for the Ireland T20 2026 series, scheduled for later this month

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the India squad for the two-match series on Saturday.

Vaibhav also became the youngest player to be ever called up to a senior Indian team in any format.

If he debuts during the tour or anytime over the next year, he will break Sachin Tendulkar’s longstanding record of being the youngest Indian player to ever play international cricket.

Tendulkar made his Test debut for India back in 1989 against Pakistan at the age of 16 years and 205 days. Vaibhav celebrated his 15th birthday in March.

The Master Blaster is also the youngest Indian to feature in ODI cricket, having made his debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16 years and 238 days.

In T20Is, the Indian record belongs to Washington Sundar, who was 18 years and 80 days old when he debuted against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Vaibhav’s inclusion in the squad comes on the back of a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign, which saw him score a staggering 776 runs in 16 matches at a staggering strike rate of 237.30 to win the coveted Orange Cap and MVP awards.

Uncapped fast bowler Prince Yadav has also received his first senior T20 call-up following an impressive outing in the Indian Premier League this season.

As part of the tour to Ireland, the Indian cricket team will play two matches against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28.

Following the tour, the same 16-member Indian squad will take a short tour southwest to face England in a five-match T20I series between July 1 and 11.

The tour of Ireland will also see Shreyas Iyer take guard as the new Indian T20 captain. Tilak Varma will be the vice captain.

Shreyas Iyer, who last played a T20I for India in December 2023, emerged as a surprise choice to replace 2026 T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav, after the latter endured a sustained run of poor form with the bat.

The leadership change and inclusion of youngsters like Vaibhav underscores the BCCI’s long-term vision of building a new-look T20 side ahead of the 2028 LA Olympics and the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

India squad for Ireland T20 series 2026

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