Ireland Cricketer Paul Stirling shatters Rohit Sharma's world record

January 30, 2026: A major record in T20 international cricket has a new name at the top. Ireland captain Paul Stirling has become the most capped player in T20Is, ending Rohit Sharma’s long hold on the record.

Stirling achieved the milestone in Ireland’s opening T20I match against the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This was his 160th match in the shortest format, moving him ahead of Rohit Sharma, who played 159 T20Is for India before retiring after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Rohit’s T20I career lasted 17 years, starting in 2007, and he remained the most experienced player in the format for a long time. Stirling has now taken that place with his consistent presence for Ireland.

The record-breaking match was not a big one for Stirling with the bat. He opened the innings but scored only eight runs before getting out. Still, the appearance itself was special, as it placed him at the top of the T20I appearances list.

Ireland captain Paul Stirling becomes the most-capped player in men’s T20Is, surpassing Rohit Sharma 🧢 pic.twitter.com/IzTDiO3Ozt

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) January 30, 2026

Stirling Tops Elite T20I Appearances List

Paul Stirling now leads a list that includes players from teams that regularly play bilateral series and global qualifiers. His Ireland teammate George Dockrell is third on the list with 153 T20I matches. Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi follows with 148 appearances, while England captain Jos Buttler is fifth with 144 matches.

Records in other formats of the game remain unchanged. Sachin Tendulkar still holds the record for most matches in Tests and ODIs. He played 200 Test matches and 463 one-day internationals during his long international career.

Ireland Delivers Strong All-Round Performance

Despite Stirling’s low score, Ireland posted a strong total of 178 runs in the first innings. Ross Adair scored 39 runs, while Lorcan Tucker added 38. Benjamin Calitz and George Dockrell also made useful contributions.

In reply, UAE struggled with the bat. Matthew Humphreys and Gareth Delany bowled very well and took three wickets each. Ireland won the match comfortably by 57 runs.