India's first T20I series under new captain Shreyas Iyer ended on a bad note after a shocking 2-0 defeat to Ireland. It was India’s first-ever T20I series loss vs Ireland and, at the same time, their first bilateral T20I series defeat in three years.

 

The whole thing landed like a curve ball, because India had never lost a T20I match to Ireland before this tour. After they bagged the 2026 T20 World Cup, everyone sort of assumed the side would keep rolling under Shreyas Iyer.

 

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar did not really try to hide his disappointment after the series. He said this defeat was one of the worst phases in Indian cricket, and he put the blame more on the players’ approach, not on Ireland’s show.

 

Gavaskar Blames India's Casual Approach

 

In Sportstar, Gavaskar writes:

 

"Sunday, June 28 will go down as one of the worst days in Indian cricket. Losing a game of cricket is one thing, but losing a series, albeit a two-match series, also depends on whom you lose to. There are many low points in Indian cricket, and I have been a part of some, but to lose to Ireland has to be one of the lowest in the history of Indian cricket. If Ireland had played exceptional cricket, then it would have lessened the blow. It was simply overconfidence and a sense of casualness that let India down, and that's why the sadness."

 

He then drew a comparison between India’s batting and the West Indies side that lost the 1983 World Cup final to India. Gavaskar felt both teams showed too much belief in themselves and basically did not manage to adjust to how the game was unfolding.

 

He Added:

 

"It was very much like West Indies in the final of the 1983 World Cup. India's bowlers bowled smart, tight lines and lengths, and there was that outstanding, game-turning catch by the skipper, Kapil Dev, to get rid of Viv Richards, who looked intent on finishing the game in a canter. When you look at the West Indies batters' dismissals, you will see the same overconfidence and casualness that we saw from the Indian batters in both games against Ireland."

 

Also Read | Before Shreyas Iyer, Only This Indian Captain Lost His Debut T20I Series

 

India Failed To Read The Situation

 

India chased in both matches, but they couldn’t reach the number. They lost by 34 runs in the first game while chasing 183. Then, in the second T20I, India missed it by just one run, after Ireland ended up on 154/8.

 

Gavaskar said the Indian batters didn’t really read the conditions and kept going for attacking shots, even when the pitches were a bit difficult.

 

He further writes:

 

"Playing according to the situation is such an important aspect of any sport, especially cricket, but almost all the Indian batters tried to live up to their image and, on pitches that had a little extra carry and bounce, found that they were dismissed very easily by some good catching allied to smart bowling."

 

India will now try to shake off this setback when they start their five-match T20I series against England. Shreyas Iyer and his group will be hoping that the Ireland defeat becomes a lesson learned, and that they can get back to winning ways.