Mandeep Singh reveals real reason behind leaving Punjab and joining Team Tripura

Mandeep Singh who made his international debut for India way back in 2016 is all set to join a new team in domestic cricket. He has taken this decision after a lot of deliberation and thought.

Mandeep helped Punjab win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title last year. But ahead of the forthcoming domestic season, Mandeep has decided to move on to Tripura as a professional player. He has played for 14 years for the state of Punjab. But this move to Tripura was all about reinventing himself as he still wants to play all three formats for Team India.

Currently playing for Hull Zingari Cricket Club in the North Yorkshire Premier League, Mandeep believes that this country stint will help him prepare better for the next home season for a new domestic team.

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Want To Play All Three Formats: Mandeep Singh

“I still have enough cricket left in me and I am definitely not dragging myself. I decided to take up the offer from Tripura as I wanted to play in all the three formats,” he told Sportstar on Thursday from Hull.

He further revealed the main reason behind his call to leave Punjab and go to Tripura looking to give a fresh start to his cricket career. He said that the state association is looking to try out new players and hence he still with desires to play all three formats moved to Tripura.

"One of the reasons behind this decision was also the fact that the state association wanted to groom the youngsters and I think I still have enough cricket left in me, so I wanted to continue playing. I remember I was among the top performers in the Yo-Yo test, and this time, I am working harder on my fitness. So, I wanted to play in all three formats and when I got an opportunity to play for Tripura, I took it up," Mandeep said.

Mandeep also missed out on the pre-season tour to Namibia and after conversations with the association office-bearers, the India international got an indication that going forward, he might not be considered for the limited-overs side. He said that not including him in the tour to Namibia was a big indication from the management that they are looking beyond him in the state team.

"While I completely back the idea of promoting youngsters on such tours as it gives them enough exposure, I was not part of it. And to be honest, those were indications that made me rethink my future with Punjab. That’s when I spoke to the PCA secretary and the coaching director (Harvinder Singh) and they also gave a hint that I wasn’t an automatic choice in white-ball cricket anymore," Mandeep recollected saying.

In the end, he concluded by saying that it was an emotional decision for him to move on from Punjab but he moved on knowing that there is still enough cricket left in him.

"I achieved everything from my state, so yeah, it was an emotional decision for sure. But I wanted to leave on a high and since we won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year, I thought this was the best time to move on," Mandeep concluded saying.

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