IND vs IRE: Did India make a big mistake by resting Siraj? Prasidh’s costly spell raises tough questions

India’s tour of Ireland was supposed to be a comfortable start to their new T20I chapter under captain Shreyas Iyer. Instead, it began with an unexpected setback.

Fresh off lifting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 title, India entered the two-match series as overwhelming favourites. But Ireland had other plans.

In Belfast, the hosts stunned the world champions with a commanding 34-run victory, exposing cracks in India’s bowling and raising serious questions over team selection.

And one question stood out louder than the rest — did India pay the price for not having Mohammed Siraj?

Why was Mohammed Siraj missing?

Siraj was originally part of India’s squad for both the Ireland and England T20I assignments.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India decided to pull him out before the series, citing workload management.

It was a logical call on paper.

The pace spearhead had been heavily involved in recent months — from India’s T20 World Cup triumph to the Indian Premier League 2026 and the one-off Test against Afghanistan.

The management wanted to avoid burnout and keep him fresh for bigger assignments ahead.

But after Belfast, that decision is now under the microscope.

Prasidh Krishna’s big chance turns into a nightmare

With Siraj unavailable, Prasidh Krishna got his chance.

The tall pacer came into the match with confidence after claiming a five-wicket haul in the ODI series against Afghanistan. Expectations were high.

But things unraveled quickly.

Prasidh ended with figures of 1 for 57 in four overs, and his final over proved disastrous.

He leaked 27 runs, recording the most expensive over ever bowled by an Indian against Ireland in T20Is.

Those final overs shifted the momentum completely.

Ireland capitalised brilliantly, piling up 182/9, a score that eventually proved far beyond India’s reach.

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India’s death bowling exposed

While Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh showed flashes of control, the bowling unit lacked experience in crunch moments.

That’s where Siraj’s absence felt significant.

Known for his aggression, accuracy, and ability to bowl under pressure, Siraj might have made a major difference during those crucial death overs.

A learning curve for Shreyas Iyer

The defeat also marks a harsh beginning for Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy era.

With several senior players rested, this series was meant to test India’s bench strength before the high-stakes England tour.

Instead, it has highlighted how fine the margins can be in T20 cricket.

Can India bounce back?

India now head into the second T20I with their backs against the wall.

The pressure is on — not just to level the series, but to prove the Belfast defeat was only a temporary stumble.

And whether Siraj’s absence was the real turning point may remain a debate… unless India find answers quickly.