When India takes on Ireland in the two-match T20I series at Dublin starting on Wednesday, it will be a special moment for one Simi Singh.
The Mohali-born all-rounder was named in the 14-man Ireland squad led by Gary Wilson to take on India and he will be facing opponents he had once aspired to play for.
The 31-year-old moved to Ireland in 2006 for his studies before he became a regular player and coach at the Malahide Cricket Club in the Village. Simi Singh was eventually awarded an Ireland citizenship last year.
Born in Punjab, Simi Singh represented the state at the U15, U17 and U19 level before making the move all the way to Ireland.
“From the day I started playing cricket in Mohali, I always used to dream about playing for the Indian team,” the all-rounder was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.
“When I did not get my chance in Punjab cricket, I went to study in Ireland and now to get a chance to play against the Indian team at the same ground, where I used to play and train kids, is the biggest moment of my career.
Simi Singh has played against Yuzvendra Chahal before.
“Though I have never met players like Indian captain Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni, I have always seen them play on television. In my college days in Chandigarh, I played along with Yuzvendra Chahal and also with Siddharth Kaul and facing them on the cricket field again will be special. A lot of my friends in Ireland will wear my Ireland jersey with Singh written on it and cheering for me.”
Singh made his debut for Ireland last year in an ODI against New Zealand after gaining citizenship and has so far played seven ODIs in his career. He recently made his T20I debut for Ireland earlier this month against the Netherlands and impressed by picking up three wickets while also scoring a half-century.
The two T20Is between Ireland and India will take place at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin with the final clash getting under way on June 29.