While India teenage batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had to wait for his international debut, Ireland handed India-born left-arm pacer Jai Moondra his maiden T20I in the series opener at Belfast Civil Service Cricket Club on Friday.India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first. India fielded three specialist fast bowlers, one all-rounder and two spinners while Soriyavanshi was left out of the squad.Ireland skipper Lorcan Tucker confirmed Mundra’s debut in the overs, saying: “It was going to be bowling. It looked like the bowling was really good. It was a transition issue. Stroh has been great over the last couple of years. Jay will be making his debut today.”Moondra’s debut may not have attracted the attention that Sooryavanshi expected, but the 29-year-old has already established a reputation in Irish cricket circles as one of the fastest bowlers from Leinster, Ireland’s most populous province.
Who is Jai Mundra?
Born in Tok, Rajasthan, Moondra moved to Ireland in 2021 to study for a Masters in Electronics and Communications. On arrival, he joined Leinster Cricket Club in Dublin and worked his way around Ireland.Mundra told Cricket Ireland after his first call-up to the Ireland squad: “It has always been a dream of mine to play international cricket. I am very grateful to Cricket Ireland for giving me this opportunity. While I have set goals for myself, I am also focused on every game. I have goals but I don’t stress about the future. I try to enjoy the moment – and that’s what I intend to do in the India series.”Importantly, Mudra did not start his cricketing journey as a fast bowler. He started out as a batsman who could bat with left-arm spin before turning to pace later in his career.His domestic record includes one First Division match, six A-grade matches and five T20 matches for Leinster.With his debut, Mundra joins the list of players of Indian origin to represent Ireland. According to a report in Cricbuzz, the list includes Raman Lamba and Simi Singh. Another name is Robin Waters, born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), who scored 25 wins with Ireland in 1969 against the West Indies.Indian cricket fans may also recognize Waters as the driver who was involved in a crash in England in 1961, in which Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who was traveling as a passenger, lost sight in one eye.
