NEW DELHI: India’s first T20I against Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Ground in Stormont on Friday could be affected by the weather, with rain expected in Belfast during the day. The match marks the beginning of a new era under captain Shreyas Iyer, while 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his much-awaited international debut. However, the weather may have a big say in how much cricket fans get to see.

Will rain affect the India vs Ireland 1st T20I match?

The forecast suggests there is a possibility of rain interruptions in Belfast.Hourly forecast (local time):9:00 AM: 16°C – 45% chance of rain10:00 AM: 17°C – 50%11:00 AM: 18°C – 55%12:00 PM: 19°C – 60%1:00 PM: 20°C – 65%2:00 PM: 21°C – 55%3:00 PM: 22°C – 45%4:00 PM: 22°C – 40%5:00 PM: 21°C – 35%6:00 PM: 20°C – 30%The first half of the day appears the most vulnerable to showers, raising the possibility of delays if rain lingers around Stormont.

India vs Ireland 1st T20I: Good news for the scheduled start

There is some encouraging news for fans. Conditions are expected to improve by the evening, around the scheduled start of the match.At 6:00 PM local time, the forecast predicts:Temperature: 18°CConditions: Partly cloudyChance of rain: Just 4%Humidity: 83%Wind: 11 km/hVisibility: 7 kmIf the forecast holds, the teams could get close to a full match despite the threat of rain earlier in the day.

All eyes on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Apart from the weather, much of the attention will be on teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is in line for a possible India debut after a stunning IPL 2026 season and impressive performances for India A.The youngster has created a selection headache for the team management, with India’s top order already featuring established names like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan.The series will also mark Shreyas Iyer’s first assignment as India’s T20I captain after taking over from Suryakumar Yadav.

India vs Ireland 1st T20I: Match timing and live streaming

Venue: Civil Service Cricket Ground, Stormont, BelfastDate: Friday, June 26Match starts: 6:00 PM ISTLive TV: Sony Sports NetworkLive streaming: SonyLIV app and website