Shreyas Iyer‘s first international outing as captain turned out to be a tough pill to swallow as India suffered a shocking 34-run defeat against Ireland in the first T20I. The Men in Blue are in Ireland for a two-match series, which is Iyer’s first assignment as T20I captain.
While Shreyas Iyer managed to win the toss, nothing else went his way, be it with the bat or as captain. Despite being reduced to 30/3, Ireland eventually posted a solid total of 182/9. In reply, India started aggressively. They lost three quick wickets but had 60 runs on the board in 5.1 overs.
However, they fell way short in the end, being skittled out for just 148 in 18.5 overs. Ireland created history by registering their first-ever victory against India in international cricket. Taking a 1-0 lead, the hosts would be extremely confident going into the final T20I on Sunday, June 28.
Having suffered an embarrassing loss, let us take a look at four unwanted records made by Sheyas Iyer and Co. during their 34-run defeat in Belfast.
#4 Most expensive over by an Indian bowler against Ireland in T20Is
Returning to the T20I side after having last played in the format in 2023, pacer Prasidh Krishna had an outing to forget. Coming on the back of a five-wicket haul in the final ODI against Afghanistan, it was a completely contrasting performance from the pacer against Ireland.
Prasidh Krishna returned figures of 0/57 from four overs. He was taken to the cleaners, conceding 27 runs off his final over. This was the most expensive over by an Indian bowler against Ireland in T20Is. In his last T20I before the Ireland game, he had conceded 68 runs from four overs against Australia. Therefore, he gave away 125 runs combined in his last two T20I outings, which is the most by any bowler in two successive games in the format.
#3 First Indian captain to lose a match against Ireland
Before the first T20I of this series, India had never lost a single game against Ireland in international cricket across formats. They had won all eight of the previous T20Is and three ODIs, maintaining a flawless record.
However, Ireland finally beat the Men in Blue after 12 attempts. Therefore, with Shreyas Iyer leading the side, he registered an unwanted record in his very first outing as skipper, becoming the only Indian captain to lose a match against Ireland in international cricket.
#2 Lowest score by an Indian on T20I captaincy debut
Shreyas Iyer, returning to the T20I setup after 2023, failed to perform with the bat on his comeback. Moreover, as the skipper of the side, he registered another unwanted record to his name. Iyer was dismissed for just three runs off seven balls in Belfast.
Shreyas Iyer thus became the Indian batter with the lowest score on T20I captaincy debut. This unwanted record was previously held by Rohit Sharma, who had scored 17 runs in his very first T20I as captain against Sri Lanka in 2017.
#1 First team to lose twice in their immediate match after winning the T20 World Cup
India’s curse of losing their immediate T20I after winning the T20 World Cup continued. This was their first game in the format post the 2026 T20 World Cup victory.
After winning the T20 World Cup in 2024, India suffered a defeat to Zimbabwe in Harare in their first match as world champions. They are now the first team to have achieved their unwanted feat twice, with these defeats coming under Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
England is the only other team to have achieved this feat once. After their 2022 T20 World Cup triumph, they lost to Bangladesh in their first T20I after becoming world champions.
Edited by Rishab Vm