NEW DELHI: World T20 champions India national cricket team will tour Ireland in June for a T20I series as a warm-up before their white-ball tour of England in July. The series was confirmed by the announcement that Paul Stirling had stepped down as Ireland T20I captain, marking the start of a transition phase for the hosts.Ireland sees this India series as an important step towards the 2028 T20 World Cup.
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Shashi Tharoor & Samson’s Redemption Story: From Failure to FameAccording to Ireland’s director of high performance Graham West, the change of captain gives the new leader a chance to mold the team early. He said: “With qualification secured for the 2028 T20 World Cup, Paul’s (Stirling’s) decision to step down as T20 captain provides an opportunity for the new captain to start implementing his style and methodology, starting with the June series in India.”India, who will also take on the Afghanistan national cricket team before traveling to England, have regularly toured Ireland in recent years, drawing strong crowds near Dublin.
Stirling’s decision and future focus
Stirling, 35, stepped down after a disappointing World T20 campaign where Ireland struggled, although he will continue as ODI captain. Reflecting on his time, he said: “It was a huge honor to lead Ireland in this format and something I was incredibly proud of. Captaining your country is a privilege that comes with great responsibility and I am very grateful for the trust and support I have received during my time in this role.”He also made it clear that he is not backing down as a player, adding: “I still have huge ambitions as a player and I feel this decision will allow me to fully focus on being the best version of myself and the strongest possible contribution on the pitch.”
