Mandeep Singh Leaves Punjab For Tripura, Credits Harbhajan And Yuvraj For Support

Mandeep Singh has officially ended his 14-year association with the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) and will now represent Tripura in the upcoming domestic season organised by the BCCI. This decision was confirmed on Saturday, August 10.

The 32-year-old cricketer, who has participated in 99 first-class matches, 131 List A games, and 207 T20s, expressed gratitude towards his Punjab seniors Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh for their unwavering support during his tenure with PCA.

In a conversation with Sportstar, Mandeep Singh disclosed that his move to Tripura was driven by his desire to play in all three formats of cricket. At Punjab, he was not being considered for white-ball matches recently. "I still have enough cricket left in me and I am definitely not dragging myself. I decided to take up the offer from Tripura as I wanted to play in all the three formats," he told Sportstar on Thursday from Hull.

Mandeep's journey with PCA has been remarkable. "I have had the most amazing journey at PCA from junior level all the way to senior level whilst also having the best fortune of being the Winning Captain of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for 2023-2024," he said in a statement.

He extended his appreciation to Dilsher Khanna, secretary of PCA, Yuvraj Singh, and Harbhajan Singh for their constant support over the years. "I want to extend my appreciation to Dilsher Khanna, secretary of PCA, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, for their constant support throughout the years. I would also like to thank the members of PCA Management and to the staff that have been by my side over the years," he added.

Reflecting on his decision, Mandeep mentioned that it was time for a new chapter in his career. "However, after a lot of deliberation, I think it's time for me to open a new chapter in my career. I have decided that now is the right time to go ahead and play cricket for Tripura in the upcoming domestic season. I am excited for the new beginnings at Tripura and to celebrate the many milestones and achievements that are yet to come," he added.

Career Highlights

Mandeep made his debut for India in 2016 against Zimbabwe, scoring 87 runs across three matches with an average of 43.50 and a strike rate of 119.17. He has also played for various IPL teams including Royal Challenger Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

In addition to Mandeep Singh, another former Punjab player Jiwanjot Singh has joined Tripura as a professional player for the upcoming season. Tripura has also appointed PV Shashikanth as their head coach; he previously led Karnataka's team.

This transition marks an exciting phase for Mandeep as he looks forward to contributing significantly to Tripura's cricketing success while continuing his passion for playing across all formats.