India suffered a surprising 34-run defeat against Ireland in the first T20I of the two-match series in Belfast, marking a disappointing start to Shreyas Iyer’s tenure as India’s T20 captain.

This result has also placed Iyer in an unwanted record list in Indian cricket history. He has become only the fourth Indian captain to lose his debut T20 International match. Before him, only a few captains such as Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill have faced defeats in their first match as T20I leaders.

In the broader context of Indian T20 captaincy, out of 15 players who have led the side, 11 have managed to win their first match, making this loss a rare setback in an otherwise strong record for India’s debutant captains.

The defeat also carries historical significance, as Iyer has become the first Indian captain ever to lose a match against Ireland in any format. Prior to this encounter, India had maintained an unbeaten record against Ireland in international cricket.

For Ireland, the win marks a landmark moment, while for India it raises questions after a shaky performance in both batting and bowling departments in the series opener.