Simranjeet Singh: Man who bowled after 12-year-old Shubman to play against him for the UAE

Dubai, September 9 (Pti) “I have known Shubman since he was a child, but I don’t know if he remembers me,” Simranjeet Singh, the left arm spinner of the UAE, remembered with a shy smile. On the eve of the biggest moment of his cricket career, an Asia Cup match against India here, the 35-year-old Ludhiana, he remembers a talented 12-year-old who would practice in the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) in Mohali. ‘It was about 2011-12 and Shubman must have been 11 or 12 to the maximum. We trained at the PCA Academy in Mohali from 06:00 to 11:00. Shubman would be accompanied by his father at about 11 o’clock. ‘ I was someone who would do a lot of extra bowling after our session. Don’t know if he would recognize me, but in those days I bowled a lot for Shubman, “said the traveler cricketer, whose life changed decisively during the Covid19 pandemic. The 35-year-old left arm Orthodox bowler is a smart customer according to UAE coach, Lalchand Rajput.” Not every left arm spinner in T20is has the heart to give the ball. Simran knows how to buy wickets with flight, “Rajput said about the Punjab man, who has 15 wickets of 12 T20Is with an economic rate of less than six. Against Afghanistan so recently on September 5, he had a decent figure of 1/24 with 11 dot balls.” I played a lot of district cricket in Punjab. I finally came to the Ranji probability in 2017. I also bowled a lot at the then Kings Xi Punjab Nets when they had the day in Mohali, “he recalls .. he didn’t make the breakthrough realize that his dreams of playing for India. Here for 20 strange days in April, 2021. And then the massive second wave hit and there was another lock in India. To be able to play for the UAE, Simranjeet had to play three seasons of domestic cricket, and as soon as he met the criteria, he contacted head coach Lalchand Rajput and asked him for a trial. My household management. If I had any problem, I wouldn’t have represented the vague. My religion is respected. No one questioned my beard or my kara, why I hold a Kirpan, “he said. He starts to laugh when asked which team will support his family when the UAE Wednesday takes India India.” It’s a difficult one. The dream was to play for India, but now that I play for the vague, I think they will support the vague.