Jaspreet Singh’s story doesn’t start in the big stadium or under the bright lights. It begins in the lanes of Phagwara, Punjab, where cricket was played with whatever was available and dreams were united in village games.
Twenty-two years ago, his life shifted continents when his family moved to Bergamo in northern Italy. However, cricket did not travel so easily. In a country where football ruled and cricket barely existed on the surface, Jaspreet had to find his way back to the sport slowly, almost patiently.
That quest has now taken him to Italy’s first ever World T20 campaign in 2026, a historic moment for the Gli Azzurri. Jaspreet, now 32, is part of that squad, although his own World Cup debut will have to wait. He was left out of the Italian XI their opening match against Scotland at Eden Gardens, where Italy were beaten by 73 runs.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Jaspreet summed up what the journey meant to him.
“Reaching this stage is a matter of great pride. Everyone who plays cricket has a dream since childhood to represent their country and play at the highest level.”
What was the beginning of Jaspreet Singh’s career?
Jaspreet’s cricketing education while growing up was informal, built on imagination rather than coaching manuals. He recalled how he experimented endlessly in village matches, trying everything from the carousel to batting, often copying the stars he watched on TV.
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He emulated bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath long before he envisioned himself as a medium pacer.
A move to Italy meant that cricket was not always available. Jaspreet admitted that in the early years, the sport was barely present around him.
“I always loved cricket, but when I went to Italy, there wasn’t really cricket there. So I started playing football.”
It was only later, through community contacts, that cricket came back into his life, first in the form of tennis ball games and then in something more organized.
How did Jaspreet Singh become an Italian player?
Jaspreet enrolled at the local Bergamo Cricket Club, a modest establishment, while completing a two-year electrician course to support his father’s work. Cricket at that time remained a passion alongside the responsibilities of daily life.
The breakthrough came thanks to Indian expats he met at a local gurudwara, who pushed him to seek better opportunities. They suggested England where his skills could be honed on grass wickets and structured club cricket.
This move came with its own grind. Jaspreet worked as an Uber driver in Birmingham to cover expenses and balance cricket dreams with day-to-day survival.
“I come from a middle-class background. Later, when I found out that Italy had a national team and qualification, I decided that I should work hard and represent this country.”
His breakthrough came in 2018 when he played his first qualifying match in the Netherlands. An excellent performance against Jersey, where he was named Man of the Match, helped cement his place in the Italy squad.
Who inspired Jaspreet Singh in cricketing journey?
Like most kids who grow up with Indian cricket on TV, Jaspreet was an inspiration to many. Dhoni, Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, the list, he admitted, is endless.
But one name stood out early. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.
“When we were kids, all our friends would pick one batsman to follow. I picked Ganguly. Some picked Sachin. Sourav Ganguly was the first batsman who really inspired me.”
The association seems fitting, given that Jaspreet is now living his World Cup dream in Kolkata, Ganguly’s city, in Italy colors on a stage he once only watched from afar.
For Jaspreet, the Italian qualification is not just a sporting milestone, it is an emotional one.
“The feeling is something that cannot be expressed in words. It was a dream for all of us when we qualified.”
Italy may still be in World Cups, but players like Jaspreet epitomize what association cricket is built on: late starts, long detours and never-ending hope.
From Phagwara to Bergamo, from Uber rides in England to the World Cup spotlight, Jaspreet Singh’s Italian story continues to be written.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 10, 2026