Ireland T20 World Cup 2026 team preview: Squad, fixtures, probable XI, key players, tournament prediction

Ireland arrive at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as a side that no longer shocks anyone by being competitive, yet finds itself stuck just outside the inner circle of the game's elite. Consistency at global tournaments has remained elusive for the talented side.

This will be Ireland’s eighth appearance at a T20 World Cup, having featured in every edition since their debut in 2009. Coming off the back of impressive series wins against Italy and UAE, the Irish would hope to maintain that form as they go into the World Cup.

Squad

Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.

Fixtures

Feb 8: v Sri Lanka (Colombo)

Feb 11: v Australia (Colombo)

Feb 14: v Oman (Colombo)

Feb 17: v Zimbabwe (Pallekele)

Probable playing XI

Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Matthew Humphreys.

Key players

Paul Stirling

Few players in Associate or lower-ranked Full Member cricket carry the amount of influence as Stirling. Ireland’s all-time leading T20I run-scorer remains the fulcrum of the side, with over 3,500 T20I runs, 22 half-centuries and the experience of leading Ireland through multiple World Cups by now. His aggressive approach in the Powerplay might just be the key in the 2026 edition. At 35, this World Cup could be his final shot at a strong showing on the world stage.

Harry Tector

Commonly believed to be Ireland’s most technically accomplished batter, Tector has evolved into a dependable middle-order anchor. His calm presence against spin makes him particularly valuable on slower surfaces in Sri Lanka, where Ireland play all their group matches. Tector’s performances against top-tier attacks over the last two years suggest he is ready to shoulder responsibility on a global event.

Josh Little

Raw pace remains a rare commodity in Irish cricket, and the left-arm quick has consistently clocked high speeds and shown the courage to attack batters with the new ball. An experienced campaigner in franchise leagues around the world, he would be one of the players whom his teammates would look up to in duress. On subcontinental pitches which will may reverse swing later in the innings, Little could be Ireland’s trump card.

Tournament prediction

If they play their cards right, Ireland could emerge as the surprise package in Group B. Beating Sri Lanka on home soil will be a stiff challenge, but a single upset could open up the group. With solid performances against Oman and Zimbabwe, Ireland have a realistic chance of emerging as the group’s giant-killers.