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Key Takeaways
- 1📊 12 of Ireland’s 15-man squad played the last T20 World Cup
- 2🏆 Paul Stirling leads Ireland in their ninth T20 World Cup
- 3💡 Balance of experienced core with Tector and Calitz as X-factors
- 4🔮 Subcontinental conditions could turn Ireland into dark horses
"Paul Stirling will lead the 15-member unit in their ninth appearance of the marquee event. "
Veteran opener Paul Stirling will once again captain Ireland at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka and India, heading a settled 15-member squad built around experience, continuity and a sprinkling of new blood.
Stirling’s experienced core with fresh edge
This will be Ireland’s ninth appearance at the T20 showpiece, and they are banking on stability for a deep run on subcontinental pitches. Stirling, the country’s leading run-getter in the format, remains the lynchpin at the top, with Lorcan Tucker named vice-captain as the long-term leadership option.
The 15-member squad features a strong seam unit in Mark Adair, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy and Craig Young, backed by all-round depth from Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany and George Dockrell. Spin options look well-rounded for Sri Lankan and Indian conditions, with Matthew Humphreys and Ben White joining Dockrell to form a three-prong attack.
There is a clear emphasis on continuity: 12 of the 15 players were part of the previous edition, bringing big-tournament experience and familiarity with high-pressure nights. That stability is balanced by the inclusion of top-order batter Tim Tector and middle-order left-hander Ben Calitz, both capable of giving the side an extra gear with the bat.
For Indian fans, this Irish unit is no longer a “minnow” sideshow. With punchy hitters, clever seamers and adaptable spinners, they are exactly the kind of banana-skin opposition that can knock over a heavyweight in a group of death. On slow, turning tracks in Sri Lanka and India, their tactical nous and tournament nous could make them one of the dark horses of T20 World Cup 2026.
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