Ireland to Field a New-Look Side Under Tucker Against India

Ireland have announced a new captain for their upcoming T20I series against India, appointing wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker as the team’s leader. His first assignment as captain will be a two-match series against reigning world champions India.

Paul Stirling stepped down from the T20I captaincy following this year’s T20 World Cup and is also unavailable for the series due to a calf muscle injury. Ireland have been further hit by injuries, with five seam bowlers ruled out of contention. Josh Little, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Barry McCarthy and Jordan Neill are all unavailable because of injury.

The injury crisis has opened the door for several new faces in the squad. Reuben Wilson, who made his Test debut against New Zealand last month, is now in line to make his limited-overs international debut. Young fast bowlers Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard could also earn their first international caps for Ireland.

Promising leg-spinning all-rounder Gavin Hoey is another player who could make his T20I debut. Meanwhile, Ben White and experienced seamer Craig Young have been left out of the squad that competed at the T20 World Cup. In the batting department, Stephen Doheny has been selected ahead of Sam Topping.

Ireland’s T20I squad for the series against India includes Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matt Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker (captain and wicketkeeper), and Reuben Wilson.

The two-match T20I series will be played at Stormont in Belfast on June 26 and 28. Facing a formidable Indian side, Ireland will take the field with a young and relatively inexperienced squad under the leadership of their new captain, Lorcan Tucker.