Prabhsimran Singh, India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, has received his maiden senior call-up for the T20I series against Zimbabwe, which begins on July 23. Following a missed opportunity at the 2023 Asian Games, the Punjab Kings opener’s only goal is to wear the India jersey. He recently spent time with his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, and shared specifics from the conversation that helped him stay grounded and focused on the future.
With this call-up, the right-hander brings a distinct IPL pedigree. No other Indian has scored 500 runs in two consecutive league seasons while still lacking a senior cap.
His recent stint with India A, combined with his strong IPL achievements, led to his selection. The 15-person team included newcomers from the domestic circuit, as opening positions in Indian cricket remain competitive. I play in the IPL, but now I have the opportunity to represent my country.
I received it earlier, during the Asian Games, but I was unable to play. Now, my only desire is to return as a capped player this time around and, of course, perform well so that I can receive more opportunities,” Prabhsimran Singh said on JioStar.
Prabhsimran Singh discusses competition and lessons learnt in India A
Many hitters compete for openers in India, where the competition is severe. Singh reflected on his experience with India A, where he collaborated with opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in a tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A.
He stated that the IPL is a large platform where he can interact with international players, young players, established Indian players, and even legends. So, obviously, it is difficult. However, if you look at it, it is healthy competition.
There is so much competition for the opening place in the Indian squad, and all I can think about is, ‘Just give me an opportunity, and if I get it, hopefully I’ll play well.’
We just went to play the India A series against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, and Vaibhav was also with me. Watching him bat is a lot of fun and makes me happy. Because we were opening together, we had more time to spend together and talk about many topics. “It was an amazing experience,” Prabhsimran Singh added.
Prabhsimran Singh’s rise and Ricky Ponting’s role
Singh also mentioned that his Punjab Kings’ head coach, Ricky Ponting, had a significant impact. Despite their different personalities, they both have a winning attitude, and Ponting has been instrumental in his development as a cricketer. Shreyas Iyer leads the Indian team in the Zimbabwe series, which begins on Thursday, July 23.
Discussion about this post