India's exciting new T20I journey is about to kick off in Belfast, and all eyes are on who will step up to open the batting against Ireland on June 26 and June 28. Right now, it looks like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are the top contenders to form India's opening duo in the first T20I under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer.
Abhishek comes in hot after an impressive run across formats, while Samson is riding high after a fantastic T20 World Cup. That said, the young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is still in the mix. Although he might be a bit behind in the race for the opening match, the 15-year-old still has a shot at making the playing XI during this two-match series.
Abhishek was a standout player in IPL 2026, racking up 563 runs and smashing a tournament-high score of 135 not out. He also stepped up when it counted, scoring a vital half-century in India's T20 World Cup final win. On the other hand, Samson played a key role in India's championship run and was named Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. His knack for switching between anchoring the innings and going for big shots makes him a perfect match at the top alongside the aggressive left-hander Abhishek.
India’s Settled Middle Order Gives ahead of Ireland Tour
At the No. 3 spot, Ishan Kishan is all set to keep his fantastic form going. The left-handed batsman racked up 490 runs in IPL 2026, boasting an impressive strike rate of 179.5, with standout performances of 91, 80, and 74. Captain Shreyas Iyer is expected to take the No. 4 position after a remarkable comeback season, where he scored 604 runs at an average of 50.33, leading the Punjab Kings all the way to the IPL final.
Vice-captain Tilak Varma is likely to step in at No. 5 after playing a crucial role in helping India A clinch the tri-series title in Sri Lanka. Shivam Dube, despite a quieter IPL season, remains a vital finisher, bringing his explosive hitting and part-time seam bowling to the table for added balance. Axar Patel's all-round skills keep him firmly in the mix, while Washington Sundar's solid 377-run campaign in IPL 2026 bolsters his case, especially with Nitish Kumar Reddy sidelined due to a left quadriceps injury.
The bowling lineup is set to include Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Ravi Bishnoi. Arshdeep, who holds the record for India's top T20I wicket-taker, will spearhead the attack. Bishnoi is back as the main spinner, stepping in with Varun Chakravarthy out of the picture. Meanwhile, Rana, who has been sidelined since a knee injury earlier this year, is still highly valued for his speed and skills in the death overs. As India kicks off their tour of Ireland, the opening pair seems to be locked in for now, but with Sooryavanshi in the mix, the competition is sure to stay fierce.
