Swinging Irish: Indian expat eyes dream T20

Simranjit Singh dreamt of playing cricket for India as a child, and while that dream never became reality, he could experience the next best thing by playing against Virat Kohli's men for Ireland on Wednesday.

'Simi' made the trip to Ireland in 2006 to study hotel management and played and coached at Malahide Cricket Club, the same venue where his adopted nation will take on India in a sole T20 International.

Now 31, Simi, who was a promising under-age cricketer in Mohali without taking the next step, received Irish citizenship last year and has played seven one-day internationals and four T20Is for Ireland and is on track to face India after being named in a 14-man squad for the clash.

"From the day I started playing cricket in Mohali, I always used to dream about playing for the Indian team," Simi said. 

"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. 

"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."

A spin-bowling allrounder, Simi made his international debut for Ireland against New Zealand in March last year at Malahide, scoring nine runs batting at No.7 and did not bowl.

Earlier this month he made his T20I debut against the Netherlands at Rotterdam, where he almost single-handedly won Ireland the match with a brilliant all-round display.

Bowling right-arm off-breaks, Simi took 3-23 to help restrict Holland to 144. But in reply, Ireland slumped to 7-63 and then 8-96 before Simi exploded to post 57 from 29 balls.

Unfortunately for Simi and Ireland, his pyrotechnics weren't enough to get the visitors across the line, who fell five runs short of beating the Dutch.

At domestic level, he posted his maiden 50-over century, 121 not out with eight sixes, in a List A world record seventh-wicket stand of 215 with George Dockrell in a big win for Leinster Lightning over Northern Knights in Ireland's provincial competition.

Those experiences have given Simi confidence of performing well against India should he win selection.

"Playing in the T20 format at the international level before the series against India gave me a lot of confidence," he said. 

"Scotland and Netherlands have some very good players and taking wickets against those teams helped my game. 

"Playing for Leinster Lightning, which also sees the presence of players like Kevin O'Brien, also gives me an opportunity to hone my allrounder skills. 

"The century against Knights earlier this month came in tough conditions and it feels good to see my name in the record books."