Indian batters slammed after poor show leads to team's first ever T20I defeat to Ireland: 'It was a sham'

Ireland have defeated India for the first time in a T20I as the Irish team stormed to a 34-run victory over the Men in Blue in the first match of the series in Belfast on Friday, June 26. Ireland have thus taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series.

The hosts posted a formidable total of 182-9 batting first and then bundled India out for just 148. The victory for Ireland was even more remarkable as they achieved it without the presence of some of their first-choice players.

India humbled

In his debut game as India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first and his bowlers gave him a fantastic start. Ireland were four down within 7.1 overs but Lorcan Tucker, also captaining his team for the first time, slammed a crucial half-century and Gerath Delany contributed with a crucial 46 to take Ireland to a respectable score.

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Harshit Rana picked up three wickets for India while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel got a couple of wickets each.

India were kept in the game by a fiery half-century from Abhishek Sharma who took only 19 balls to reach that figure. However, no one else did much of note as Irish bowlers kept striking at regular intervals. Debutant Matthew Hollard was the pick of the bowlers with 3/28. He was also adjudged the Player of the Match for his effort.

Fans and experts agreed that India had been completely humbled by an Irish team that was missing few of its key players.

The next and final match of the series takes place at the same venue on Sunday, June 28.