Belfast City Hall lights up in Tricolour as CGI hosts special reception for Team India
Belfast, June 28
The Consulate General of India in Belfast hosted a special reception for Team India, who are in Ireland for the two-match T20I series, in the Northern Ireland capital. Consul General of India Kiran Khatri welcomed the 'Men in Blue' as they will take on the hosts in the second match of the series here at the Civil Service Cricket Club on Sunday.
The India men's cricket team returned to Ireland three years after their last visit. To welcome Team India, Belfast City Hall was lit up in the Indian tricolour.
"Sport remains one of the warmest bridges between our peoples. Wishing the Men in Blue the very best!" CGI Belfast posted on X.
Meanwhile, the BCCI shared the glimpses of the event on X with a caption, "An evening of warmth, camaraderie and the Indian spirit in Belfast. The Consulate General of India in Belfast (@CGIBelfast) welcomed #TeamIndia at a special reception hosted by Ms Kiran Khatri, Consul General of India. Joined by members of the Indian community and distinguished guests, the occasion reflected the enduring appeal of cricket in bringing people closer."
India and Ireland have met on eight occasions previously in T20Is, with India winning all eight, the last encounter being at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in New York. Before the ongoing tour, India's last T20I on Irish soil was in 2023. The teams last played at Stormont in 2007, an ODI which India won by nine wickets.
However, Ireland broke a winless run against India in the opening T20I by registering their first-ever win over reigning world T20 champions by 34 runs.
Captain Lorcan Tucker's half-century paved the way for the Irish, as they piled up an impressive 182/9 in their 20 overs. India's famed batting line-up crumbled under pressure, and the visitors were dismissed for 148 in 18.5 overs.
The 34-run win marks Ireland's first-ever triumph against India across all formats of the game.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see the welcome, but let's be honest—the team's performance in the first T20 was disappointing. We can't keep relying on star players to bail us out every time. Ireland played brilliantly and deserved that win. Time for some introspection, BCCI! 💪
Such a proud moment for the Indian diaspora in Ireland! Looking at those glimpses from the reception, you can feel the warmth of the community. Cricket truly is the bridge between nations. ☘️🇮🇳
Don't forget this is still a young Indian side experimenting. One loss doesn't define us—our second string team has immense potential. Looking forward to the boys bouncing back in the next match! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
As an Indian fan living abroad, seeing our flag on iconic landmarks like Belfast City Hall is deeply emotional. 🇮🇳 Kudos to CGI Belfast for organizing such a wonderful reception. The Indian community there must be over the moon! 🎉
Wonderful to see cultural exchange through sport. I'm from the US, but there's something special about how India and Ireland connect through cricket. The Indian team is always gracious ambassadors. Hope the series ends on a positive note!
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