India Lose First T20I to Ireland; Fans Slam Iyer, Gambhir
Social media erupts as India suffer their maiden T20I defeat against Ireland in Belfast.
India's first-ever T20I loss to Ireland has sparked outrage among fans, who are directing their anger at captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The defeat in Belfast came as a shock, with Ireland posting 182 runs before bowling India out for 148.
Lorcan Tucker's half-century anchored Ireland's innings, while debutants Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra shared five wickets to dismantle India's chase. Abhishek Sharma's rapid fifty was the only highlight for India, as Iyer himself fell for just three runs. The loss is historic for Ireland, who were missing several senior players due to injury.
Fans took to social media to criticise the team selection and leadership, with many questioning the decision to bench 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The defeat marks a low point for India under the new coaching regime of Gambhir, who has been labelled arrogant by some supporters.