It will be an emotional reunion on Wednesday when India play the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the second game of Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. UAE spinner Simranjeet Singh will cross paths with his childhood friend and Indian batting star Shubman Gill.
Shubman and Simranjeet have happy recollections of their time at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) nets in Mohali. Simranjeet remembers bowling to Gill approximately 2011–12, when the Indian batsman was 11 or 12 years old.
I have played with Shubman from his childhood days, but I don’t know whether he remembers me,” Simranjeet said to PTI. “He came in the nets all the time, and I bowled later in the session, so I tended to bowl a lot to him as well.” While Gill’s career went through the roof in India, Simranjeet’s career followed a different route.
From Punjab to UAE: The Journey of Simranjeet Singh ?
Born and brought up in Punjab, Simranjeet had played district cricket and was part of the Punjab’s Ranji Trophy probables in 2017, but never reached the pinnacle in India. His cricketing career took a different turn when a brief visit to Dubai for training during the second wave of COVID-19 ended up as a stay. He started coaching youngsters and playing club cricket and developed his skills as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler.
After spending three years in the UAE, Simranjeet met with UAE head coach Lalchand Rajput and sought a trial. His skill of flighting deliveries caught the attention of the coaches, who signed him for a central contract with the UAE Cricket Board and opened his international career. He made his debut against Saudi Arabia in 2024 in Doha.
Simranjeet Singh’s Performance for UAE
Since making his debut, Simranjeet has been a regular contributor for UAE. In 12 T20Is, he has taken 15 wickets at an excellent economy of 5.64. He also played in a recent tri-series against
Afghanistan, where he took one wicket for 24 runs in four overs. He has 10 wickets from five ODIs and was also in the UAE side that won a historic T20I series against Bangladesh.
In front of India and Shubman Gill will be a complete-circle experience for Simranjeet. From having bowled to a young Gill in Mohali to standing on the international platform against him, the game is a personal as well as professional landmark.
