India last visited Ireland in 2007, playing a One Day International (ODI) match, with India winning by nine wickets.[5] The teams have only played one T20I match previously, in the group stage of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 tournament, with India winning the fixture by eight wickets.[5] The first of the two matches of the series was India's 100th T20I match.[6]
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India's squad for the trip to Ireland on 8 May 2018, naming Virat Kohli as the captain.[7] However, Kohli was initially signed by the English side Surrey County Cricket Club to play in the 2018 County Championship. Surrey's website stated that he would be playing for them throughout June, including their final fixture against Yorkshire, scheduled to be played from 25 to 28 June 2018.[8] The BCCI were in discussions with Surrey to reach an amicable solution for both sides over the fixture clash.[9] However, during the match in the 2018 Indian Premier League on 17 May, Kohli suffered an injury and his spell with Surrey was cancelled.[10] The BCCI went on to state that they were confident that Kohli would be fit enough to play in the tours to Ireland and England.[10]
India won the series 2–0.[11] India scored more than 200 runs in both matches, the first time they had done so in consecutive games.[12] Their victory in the second match was their biggest winning margin, in terms of runs, in T20Is, and the joint-second biggest winning margin in T20Is by any team.[13] Ireland were bowled out for 70 runs in 12.3 overs, which was the third-shortest innings in T20Is.[12]
