IRE vs IND 2026: We have to adapt really quick to the conditions, says Abhishek Sharma

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma said India’s loss to Ireland was due to the team’s inability to adapt quickly to the playing conditions. He noted that with a packed schedule featuring back-to-back matches, teams have limited practice time, making it essential to adjust swiftly to conditions in order to perform well.

Ireland held their nerve to register a historic 34-run victory over India in the opening T20I of the series in Belfast on Friday. The win marked Ireland’s first-ever triumph over the reigning T20 world champions across all formats.

“It’s just how quickly we adapt the conditions, that’s really matters as a team, because when you are playing back to back games, as a group you have to step forward and get used to the conditions, whenever you get practice sessions or probably get used to, I feel as a dominating team, you have to adapt really quick and that’s what we were trying today, but unfortunately it didn’t happen,” Sharma told the reporters after the match.

Captain Lorcan Tucker led from the front with a composed half-century as Ireland posted an imposing 182/9 in their 20 overs in the opening T20I in Belfast. The hosts then produced a disciplined bowling display to dismiss India for 148 in 18.5 overs, sealing a historic 34-run victory. Sharma waged a lone battle with a blistering 50 off just 20 balls, but the rest of India’s star-studded batting line-up failed to build meaningful partnerships under pressure.

Ireland’s bowlers maintained control throughout the chase, with left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys and Matt Hollard picking up three wickets each. Debutant Jai Moondra also impressed on his international debut, returning figures of 2/25 in four overs to cap a memorable performance. The two sides will meet again in the second and final T20I on Sunday at the same, with men in blue aiming to level the series and Ireland looking to complete a famous clean sweep.