'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAA2+wNP//EAB8QAAEDBAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABAUiFCFBYf/aAAgBAQABPwDNcld/hl2z5aaD5DqTMLSU7CB8HR8NG4VJ2Nf/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAv/aAAgBAgEBPwCn/8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/aAAgBAwEBPwB//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Veteran batter Mandeep Singh took to X on Saturday, August 10, to announce his disassociation with Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) in the domestic cricket. He will now ply trade for Tripura from the 2024-25 domestic season, which will begin next month with the Duleep Trophy.
Mandeep made his first-class debut for Punjab in the 2010-11 Ranji trophy season. Since then, he has been a key run-scorer for the side across all formats, scoring over 14,000 runs with 19 centuries and 81 fifties.
During this time, the right-handed batter played three ODIs for India in 2016 and garnered 87 runs in three innings, including an unbeaten 52 against Zimbabwe. He also represented four different franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the recent appearance coming for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023.
Leading the Punjab team since the last few years, Mandeep Singh finally found success in the form of a title victory in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023. He led the team from the front, scoring 167 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 138.01.
Here's what Mandeep Singh posted on X:
Main reason behind Mandeep Singh's exit from Punjab Cricket
In a recent interview with Sportstar, Mandeep Singh shed light on his reason to play for Tripura going forward in domestic cricket. As per his talks with the head office bearers of the PCA, the team management is titled towards grooming youngsters, and Mandeep wasn't part of their plans, especially in the white-ball format.
Understanding the current scenario of a huge influx of talented youngsters coming out of Punjab, Mandeep decided to shift to the Tripura state side to continue playing across all formats of the game. Here's what he said:
"I did get an indication that going forward, I may not be considered for white-ball cricket as they wanted to give more opportunities to youngsters. I spoke to the Punjab Cricket Association secretary Dilsher Khanna as well, and somehow I felt that it would be best to move on."
"I understand their standpoint as well - with so many youngsters coming in from the state, they want to give everyone a chance - but as I wanted to play all three formats, I took this decision," he added.
