India to Tour Ireland for June T20Is as Paul Stirling Relinquishes Captaincy

Ireland will host India for a short T20I series in June as Paul Stirling steps down as T20 captain, ushering in a new leadership phase.

The announcement came on Thursday, March 19, with Graham West, Ireland’s director of high performance, confirming the series while addressing Stirling’s departure. Discussions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Cricket Ireland about a short T20I series had been ongoing since last September, ahead of India’s white-ball tour of England in July.

“With qualification secured for the 2028 T20 World Cup, Paul’s decision gives the new captain a chance to implement their style, starting with the India series in June,” West said.

India, meanwhile, will finish their post-IPL 2026 schedule with a one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan ending June 20, before facing England in the first T20I on July 1, leaving the June window open for Ireland.

Stirling steps down after T20 World Cup struggles

Stirling’s resignation follows a disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, where Ireland exited in the group stage after just one win from four matches, losing to Sri Lanka and Australia, while the match against Zimbabwe was washed out.

He will continue as Ireland’s ODI captain, maintaining dedicated leadership for each format.

“Stepping away from T20 captaincy will allow me to focus fully on my game and contribute more on the field,” Stirling said. “It’s the right time for the team to start a new chapter. I’ll support the next T20 captain fully and remain committed to Ireland’s growth and success.”

Who could succeed Stirling?

Lorcan Tucker, Stirling’s deputy, and Harry Tector are among the frontrunners to take over the T20I captaincy ahead of the India series.