Ramandeep Singh Makes T20I Debut for India Against South Africa

Ramandeep Singh, a 27-year-old all-rounder from Punjab, made his T20I debut for India in the third T20I against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on November 13, 2024. He was handed his debut cap by Hardik Pandya, marking a significant milestone in his cricketing career.

Ramandeep Singh gained prominence during the IPL 2024 season, where he played a crucial role for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), helping the team win the title. In 14 matches, he scored 125 runs at an impressive strike rate of over 201, primarily playing as a finisher. His IPL journey began in 2022 with the Mumbai Indians, where he made his debut and took six wickets in five matches, although he did not play in the 2023 season and was later released by the franchise.

Aside from his IPL performances, Ramandeep has been a standout player for his domestic side, Punjab. He played a key role in Punjab’s title win in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year and has also represented India A in the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 in Oman. In this tournament, he scored 94 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 191.83 and took three wickets in four matches.

Ramandeep’s career statistics are impressive, with 57 T20 matches under his belt, where he has scored 544 runs at a strike rate of 170 and taken 16 wickets at an average of just over 16. He is known for his powerful hitting and his ability to bowl at a high pace, making him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

Ramandeep’s journey to the national team was not straightforward. Growing up in Mohali, he trained rigorously, often competing with his friend Shubman Gill to see who could face the most balls in the nets. Despite not playing for India U-19, he worked hard in the age-group circuit and eventually got his chance to play for Punjab and later in the IPL.