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Former Ireland all-rounder Simi Singh has announced his retirement from professional cricket at the age of 39. Singh confirmed his decision on Wednesday, September 30, bringing an end to a career that saw him become an important figure in Irish cricket.
Born in Bathlana, India, Simi Singh moved to Ireland in 2006 at the age of 19 with the ambition of playing international cricket. He eventually made his Ireland debut against New Zealand in May 2017 and became the first Irish international of Indian origin. He went on to represent Ireland 88 times across formats and made his mark with both bat and ball.
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Simi Singh career record and major highlights
Simi Singh finished his ODI career with 35 appearances, scoring 593 runs in 30 innings at an average of 22.80 and a strike rate of 72.76. He registered one century and one fifty, with his highest score being an unbeaten 100. With the ball, he claimed 39 wickets from 1,519 deliveries at an average of 25.92 and an economy rate of 3.99. His best ODI figures were 5/10.
In T20Is, Singh played 53 matches and scored 296 runs at 10.20, with a highest score of 57*. He also picked up 44 wickets at an average of 27.84 and an economy rate of 7.61, with best figures of 3/9.
His first-class record includes 13 matches, 612 runs at an average of 36.00 and two centuries. He also took 27 wickets at 25.25, including a best of 5/38.
In List A cricket, Singh scored 1,614 runs in 71 innings at 27.82, with two centuries and six fifties. He also took 84 wickets at 27.48, including three four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.
One of Singh's most memorable achievements came in 2021 when he scored an unbeaten 100 against South Africa at Malahide. Coming in at No. 8, he became the first batter to score an ODI century from that position. His best bowling performance came earlier that year when he took 5/10 against UAE in Abu Dhabi. The ICC also named him in its Men's ODI Team of the Year for 2021.
Singh's career was interrupted by serious illness in 2024 when he underwent a liver transplant. After his recovery, he decided that his playing career needed a formal conclusion and has now announced his retirement.
Ireland will always have a special place in my heart - Simi Singh
Reflecting on his journey, Simi Singh said his move to Ireland as a teenager eventually led to an experience he could never have imagined. He thanked his family, coaches and people who supported him throughout his career.
“I came to Ireland as a 19-year-old with a dream of playing international cricket, and looking back, the journey has been nothing short of surreal. I’m incredibly grateful to Ireland and to everyone who supported, believed in, and helped me along the way. None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my family, who stood by me through every step of the journey," he said in an official statement released by Cricket Ireland.
“A special thank you to Alan Lewis, who played such an important role in both my professional and personal life, especially during my YMCA days. I’ll always be grateful for his guidance and support. Additionally, an exceptional coach can make a real difference to a player, and for me, Graham Ford was that coach. He was vital to my career and achievements.
“Ireland will always have a special place in my heart. I’ll forever be a proud supporter of Irish cricket, and I wish the next generation every success in achieving great things. Thank you, Ireland.”
We were all shocked when we learned of Simi’s illness and his fight for his life - Gary Wilson on Simi Singh
Ireland head coach and former teammate Gary Wilson also paid tribute to Simi Singh, highlighting the sacrifices he made to pursue his international dream. He stated:
“When you look back at the sacrifices Simi made in chasing his dream, you can only but admire the career he made for himself in Ireland. Playing with Simi many times over those years it was clear what playing for Ireland meant to him.
“We were all shocked when we learned of Simi’s illness and his fight for his life – but equally, we are all pleased that he is in a much better place today and looking forward to what’s next post-playing career. I wish Simi well with the next steps in life. Simi can be proud of the career he had and the role he played in Irish cricket.”
