For Simranjeet Singh, the ASIA CUP 2025 clash with India is more than just other international accessories. It is a moment to return to its roots. The 35 -year -old slow Orthodox spinner of Ludhian vividly remembers bowling of young Shaubman Gill more than ten years ago in the Association of Kricket Association (PCA) in Mohali.
“I have known Shubman since he was a child, but I don’t know if he remembers me,” Simranjeet said in an interview with PTI. “It was around 2011–12. It had to be 11 or 12 at that time. At that time we trained at the PCA Academy from 6:00 to 11:00 and SHUBMAN would arrive with my father right afterwards. I often stayed back on the next bowling, and that is when I bowed a lot.”
Since then, life has taken Simranjeet on an unlikely journey. Regular in the district cricket Pandjab, made Trophy wound For the probability in 2017 and bowed on the Kings XI Punjab networks. But the breakthrough never came. Pandemie Covid-19 then changed his way.
“I came to Dubai in April 2021 for about 20 days of training, but when the second wave hit India, I could not return. I finally stayed back,” he explained. He began to train juniors while playing the club cricket to keep himself. As soon as he met the three -season home requirement for qualifying for the UAE, he reached the national coach Lalchand Rajput.
Rajtut describes him as a “cunning” superplayer. “Not every spinner of the left shoulder in the T20is has a heart to give the ball air and the years that consistently gives. Simran knows how to buy goals with flight.” In 12 T20is, he raised 15 goals with an economic rate up to six. In his last game he returned the characters from 1/24 against Afghanistan, Bowling 11 touched balls.
The devoted Sikh, Simranjeet says that UAE gave him freedom to practice his faith. “It’s a great country. No one has ever questioned beard, kara or kirpan,” he said.
As for the loyalty of their family when UAE faces India, he laughed, “That’s hard. A dream was to play for India, but now that I play for UAE, I think they will support UAE.”
– ends
Published:
Amar Pancker
Published on:
September 9, 2025
