Chennai, Feb 8 “Let’s talk in Hindi!” – This phrase is unlikely to be heard before an interview with an Italian cricketer.
However, Jaspreet Singh has not forgotten his Hindi or his connection to his hometown, Phagwara, Punjab, despite moving to Bergamo 22 years ago as a 10-year-old with his parents.
The early days in Italy were not easy, as his father Tirath Singh and mother Jasvir Kaur had to settle into an unfamiliar town as factory workers.
“It was a special day for my family when we got the chance to move to Italy. But we were also a bit anxious, as it was a new country, a new language, and a new culture. Everything was new to us. But I was thinking about how I used to play cricket as a kid in my hometown,” Jaspreet told PTI.
For a beginner, the journey to Italy, a cricket hub, was challenging, as the European nation had very limited infrastructure.
He enrolled in the local Bergamo Cricket Club, which was a modest facility, but also completed a two-year electrician course to help his father with his work.
However, Jaspreet soon found a way to develop his cricket skills with the help of Indian expats whom he met at the local gurudwara.
They encouraged him to move to England to play cricket on the turf wickets there, and he also had to work as a Uber driver to earn money while staying in Birmingham.
“I used to play cricket in India when I was a kid, and I wanted to do that when I went to Italy. But when I went to Italy, there was no cricket there, no real stadiums or grounds that I used to see in Punjab.
“When I found out about it, I started playing after moving to England because they had turf wickets, and I had to find a way to earn money, so I started driving for Uber, which also gave me a lot of flexibility in my schedule,” said Jaspreet, who plays in the competitive Birmingham & District Premier League.
The experience has been beneficial, as Jaspreet, a right-arm pacer, made his Italy debut against Norway in 2019.
Italy came close to qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup, but a narrow defeat against Ireland ended their hopes.
However, the Azzurris achieved their dream a year later by topping the European Regional Qualifiers in June 2025.
“It is a matter of pride for us. We have been trying for a long time to qualify. And our team has been working very hard for the last three years. And we are grateful to God that we qualified for the World Cup this time.
“This team has been the same for the last three to four years. Everyone knows each other and everyone knows their role. And we are still working very hard.
“We are not just here to participate in the World Cup, we are also here to compete,” he said.
For Jaspreet, a trip to India is not just a return to his homeland, but also an opportunity to experience the world-class cricketing facilities in the country.
“This is an amazing experience for us. I have been watching these grounds since my childhood. Great legends like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli have played in these grounds.
“So, to come here and play in that environment…Chidambaram Stadium (practice matches), Eden Gardens, Wankhede. It is a dream come true for all of us. We feel very proud that we have reached here,” he said.
Beyond the emotional aspects, Jaspreet acknowledged that the entire experience will help the team adapt to Indian conditions and stadium dimensions.
“It is helpful because you get to know the conditions here, what the dimensions are, and how the wickets are. What is good about them? Are they good for spin or fast?
“So, we are checking the conditions. And we have 15 good players. And according to the wicket, they will play the best combination.”
The 32-year-old hopes that the team management can take notes of the facilities here to improve the Italian system.
“The players are very good, as they have good skills. But the problem is with the infrastructure. But now, with the World Cup, we hope that the facilities will improve.
“We have played in Chennai, and now we are going to Kolkata and then to Mumbai. It is an opportunity for us to learn about the stadiums and wickets, and then do the same in Italy. Hopefully, we can also impress with our performances at such occasions,” he concluded.