Ireland have appointed Lorcan Tucker as their next T20I captain and his first task is to lead an injury-hit squad against defending world champions India this weekend.
Paul Stirling stepped down from the T20I captaincy after the T20 World Cup earlier this year and is unavailable due to a calf tear, while Ireland are also missing five seam options due to injuries: Josh Little (stress fracture), Mark Adair (abdominal), Curtis Campher (hand fracture), Barry McCarthy (anterior cruciate ligament) and Jordan Neill (shoulder, and foot).
There are several new faces in their absence. Reuben Wilson, who made his Test debut against New Zealand last month, could play his first limited-overs international, while young quicks Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard are in line to win their first Ireland caps in any format. Liam McCarthy could also play only his second T20I after an expensive debut last year.
Gavin Hoey, an exciting young legspinning allrounder, could also make his T20I debut, having been included ahead of Ben White in another change from the squad that was eliminated at the group stages of the T20 World Cup. Experienced seamer Craig Young also misses out, while top-order batter Stephen Doheny has been picked ahead of Sam Topping.
"We can't disguise the fact that we're hampered by injury at present, with at least five first-team regulars missing due to injury," Andrew White, Ireland's national selector, said. "However, my view in such circumstances is that one player's misfortune is another player's opportunity. As such, we've named three uncapped players in the squad of 14."
Tucker, who deputised as captain at the T20 World Cup earlier this year when Stirling was injured, said that helping young players develop was his "main goal" leading into a new cycle.
"I've been lucky to have some very special moments, none more so than in the T20 format, and I know there are a group of young men waiting to create those same special moments for themselves," Tucker said.
"We are fortunate to have time on our side in this format, and I'd love to be at that 2028 T20 World Cup knowing I'd given those lads the chance to make this job and this team their own."
He described the captaincy as "a great privilege" and said that he was relishing the chance to lead Ireland against India in two sold-out T20Is this weekend, with both fixtures due to be played in Stormont, Belfast. The series will be Shreyas Iyer's first as captain, and could see teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his international debut.
"India are an absolute powerhouse when it comes to T20 cricket," Tucker said. "We are fortunate to be able to measure ourselves against them right at the start of our new cycle, and there will be no tougher challenge for our group than what they will offer.
"Coming out of the IPL, there will undoubtedly be players who want to make an impact on the international scene. I hope that we can spoil a few of those parties they might have planned and show that we are also here to make an impact."
Tucker's appointment means that Ireland have different captains in each international format, with Andy Balbirnie leading their Test team and Stirling still in charge of the ODI side.
Ireland T20I squad vs India
Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matt Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker (capt/wk), Reuben Wilson.
Changes from T20 World Cup:
In: Doheny, Hoey, Hollard, McCarthy, Moondra, Wilson
Out: Stirling, Adair, Campher, Little, McCarthy (all injured), Topping (replaced Stirling), White, Young (dropped)
Fixtures: June 26 - 1st T20I, June 28 - 2nd T20I (both Stormont, Belfast)