‘If you don’t have an IPL contract, then…’ - Indian batter attacks recently retired Indian players

This is the year of reckoning for Mandeep Singh, once viewed as one of India’s most promising batters, as he moved from Punjab to Tripura for greener pastures and took domestic cricket by storm with a slew of consistent performances. 

A veteran with Punjab, Mandeep had already represented India, and despite the slim chances of another opportunity, he continued to score heavily - amassing 407 runs in just five Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 101.75. In six Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, Mandeep managed 325 runs at an average of 54.16. The fire in his belly hasn’t gone anywhere, as he still wants to get a second wind of his career to be able to play for India again.

“After leaving Punjab, the immediate thought of retiring didn’t cross my mind. But when I saw my former teammates or those with whom I have played cricket retiring, it kind of hit me hard. I was shocked to see fellow cricketers retiring early, and it felt weird. You are just 32, 33, and you are retiring,” Mandeep told The Indian Express.

“I guess the IPL is a big factor. If you don’t have an IPL contract, your cricket career is virtually over. There are leagues for retired players where you can earn good money for 15-20 day tournaments. If you have played for India, you can easily make Rs 1 crore in a year. Maybe that is one of the reasons, or maybe the fire is not in them anymore,” he says.

Mandeep is 33 years old and has already represented India in three T20Is— all of them in 2016. However, he believes his best is yet to come, and he wants to be ready for those opportunities.

“I watched a video by Paddy Upton, where he was saying that in cricket, batters peak after turning 30. It took me back to the conversation I had with AB de Villiers. I vividly remember him saying, ‘Leave Virat Kohli alone. He’s an exceptional player. He peaked very early in his career. But, if you see, everyone else—29, 30, even after that—batters generally hit their peak.

“In this ongoing season, I have realized that there is a lot of fire in me. I am fit, I can compete with 22-23-year-olds. I never felt like I was dragging myself. I had a good season with the bat in all three formats. I feel that maybe the best is yet to come.”

Mandeep led Punjab to the title in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but the Punjab selectors then made it clear that he was no longer in their plans for the white-ball events. He also added that his own form contributed to the fall, but he decided to move base and make a new dawn in his career.

“I was not the captain of any of the teams in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup (PCA’s T20 league). I was the captain of Punjab, which lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. I let it go. Then my name was missing from the squad, which was going to Namibia for a pre-season camp. I was told that they are not considering me for the white-ball tournaments.

“I felt let down. Kaafi kharab laga (I felt really bad). For me, winning a trophy for Punjab was on par with playing for India. I was that invested in the team. Being Punjabi myself, Punjab is in my heart. I never thought that I would have to leave Punjab and play for another state,” he says. “I feel it was also my mistake. My last season was horrible. The PCA wanted to give chances to younger players, and my form was bad too, so I decided to move on.”