India vs Ireland: Match timings changed ahead of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s expected debut

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image: PTI) MUMBAI: The two T20Is against India will start at 13:30 local time, which is 18:00 IST, in a bid to avoid overlap with the crucial clash between India and Australia in the 2026 Women’s World Cup at Lord’s on Sunday, it was learnt.“It was simply a factor we considered,” a Cricket Ireland official told TOI on Thursday. Normally, the T20 internationals involving India start at 19:00 IST, but on this occasion the start time has been pushed back by an hour to account for Harmanpreet Kaur & Co’s crucial match against Australia in the Women’s World Cup, which is scheduled to start at 19:00 IST. The two-match T20I series between India and Ireland in Belfast will be played on Friday and Sunday.The five T20Is in England that immediately follow the Ireland series have different start times. The three matches in Chester-le-Street, Nottingham and Bristol are scheduled to start at 10 PM IST. While two of the matches will start in the traditional 7 pm IST slot, the second T20I in Manchester on July 4 and the fifth in Southampton on July 11, the T20I series will be followed by three ODIs, all of which are scheduled to start at the usual 3:30 pm IST.This is the first time that India will play T20Is in Belfast. In 2007, they played three ODIs against South Africa and one against Ireland in Belfast. However, India have only toured Dublin in recent years, playing six T20Is, two each in 2018, 2022 and 2023, winning all six matches.The T20I series in Ireland could be historic as 15-year-old Indian batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was called up to India for the first time for the T20I series against Ireland and England, could make his highly-anticipated international debut. The series will also mark the Indian captaincy debut of Mumbai and Punjab Kings middle-order Shreyas Iyer.Former India leg-spinner MV Narsimha Rao, who played four Tests in 1978-79 and later moved to Ireland, rings the ceremonial bell just before the second T20I between India and Ireland at the Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast on June 28 (Sunday). Rao led Hyderabad to their second Ranji Trophy title, defeating Delhi in the 1987-88 final. Rao, popularly known in cricket circles as ‘Bobjee’, moved to Ireland 38 years ago, in 1988.

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