The System in Ireland is Very Transparent Unlike India: Simi Singh

It was definitely not the kind of performance Simi Singh would have wanted while representing Ireland against his India, the country of his birth on Wednesday (June 28).

Simi had left India for Ireland in 2006. Prior to that, he had played for the Mohali Under-17 side in 2004 when he scored 725 runs in the Punjab Under-17 tournament.

In 2009, he joined Old Balverydale Cricket Club before joining YMCA Club in Ireland. Simi made his much-awaited international debut during the One-day International against New Zealand, last year.

Simi made his international T20 debut against the Netherlands early this month. And he would have definitely loved to do well against Men in Blue.

However, the script did not go as planned. He bowled just one over, conceding 12 runs and could score only seven off 10 balls in the first T20I against India. But putting aside his performance, the all-rounder expressed his joy at being selected for the T20I against India.

“It is one heck of a journey. To be part of the Irish national team is a dream come true for me. The system in Ireland is very transparent unlike India. And today, if I find myself in the limelight, it is purely because of cricketing reasons,” TOI quoted Simi as saying.

During the age-group cricket in India, he played alongside Yuzvendra Chahal while studying at DAV College, Sector 10, in Chandigarh.

He was also a teammate of Indian pacer Siddarth Kaul in Punjab’s age-group cricket. But unlike his mates, Simi could not work his way up in the senior teams.

However, instead of bowing down, Simi Singh choose the less travelled path and realised his dream of playing international cricket.

“It was a very frustrating time for me and also my family. My dream to play for India was nipped in the bud,” said Simi.

“I would play cricket on the weekend by paying five euros per game. I worked at a grocery store so that I could afford to pay to play cricket,” recalled Simi.

India thrash Ireland:

Coming to the game, India thrashed Ireland by 76 runs in the first T20I. Asked to bat first, the Men in Blue piled up 208 for five in the allotted 20 overs.

The opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan starred with the bat, scoring 97 and 74 respectively as they added 160 runs for the first wicket.

In reply, Ireland never looked in contention to chase down the huge total. Barring James Shannon who scored 60, no other player could make any substantial contribution. As a result, the hosts could only manage 132 for nine in 20 overs.