India Stunned by Ireland: World Champions Suffer 34-Run Defeat in Belfast T20I

The Captain Shreyas Iyer era kicked off on a disappointing note for world champions India as they lost to Ireland by 34 runs in the first T20I of the two-match series at Belfast on Friday, marking their first-ever defeat to the side across any format.

Ireland was put to bat first by India and was guided to 182/9 by Tucker (50 in 36 balls, with five fours and two sixes) and Gareth Delany (49 in 32 balls, with three fours and three sixes).

India started off well, reaching the 50-run mark in just the fourth over, with Abhishek Sharma (50 in 20 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) impressing.

However, impressive bowling from Matthew Hollard (3/28), Matthew Humphreys (3/38) and Jai Moondra (2/26) totally unravelled India's batting as it collapsed from 45/1 to 148 all out, with the final five wickets going down for 48 runs.

In the chase of 183 runs, Team India started well, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson smashing 16 runs in the first over, including two fours and a six.

However, Jai Moondra started the next over with a dream start, castling Samson for five.

In the third over, Abhishek collected four boundaries against Liam McCarthy, taking the score to 45 runs.

Matthew Hollard created another disruption, removing Ishan Kishan for a five-ball one, with India at 45/2 in 3.2 overs.

India reached the 50-run mark in 3.5 overs as Abhishek continued the attack.

Hollard sent back skipper Shreyas Iyer for just three on his captaincy debut, with India reduced to 60/3 in 5.1 overs.

Tilak Verma collected a few boundaries while Abhishek reached his fifty in 19 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. Liam got back to Abhishek with vengeance, removing him for a 20-ball 50, with India at 80/4 in eight overs.

At the end of 10 overs, India was 89/4, with Tilak (19*) joined by Washington Sundar (4*).

Ireland continued to tear a hole into India's batting, with Matthew Humphreys removing Tilak for just a 21-ball 19. India was five down for 90 in 10.2 overs.

Washington (9) also went down to Hollard after India touched the 100-run mark in the 12th over.

Axar Patel and Shivam Dube steered the ship for India before Jai removed Shivam for a 16-ball 25, with a four and two sixes. India sank to 135/7 in 16 overs.

Axar also fell to Gerath Delany for 16-ball 15, with India reduced to 138/8 in the 17th over.

Harshit Rana's wicket went to Humphreys for just nine, continuing India's downward spiral. India was 147/9 in 18.1 overs.

Ireland made history, with Humphreys getting the final wicket. India was skittled out for 148 in 18.5 overs.

Humphreys (3/38), Hollard (3/28) and Jai (2/26) were among the top wicket-takers for Ireland.

Earlier, a fine half-century from Lorcan Tucker and a quickfire 49 from Gareth Delany lifted Ireland to 182/9 in their first T20I of the two-match series at Belfast on Friday.

Reducing to 51/4 after India opted to bowl first, Tucker (50 in 36 balls, with five fours and two sixes) put on a 64-run stand with Delany, who later on scored a quickfire 32-ball 49, with three fours and three sixes, putting on a 49-run stand in 16 balls for the sixth wicket.

Harshit Rana (3/24) was the leading bowler for India.

(With inputs from ANI)