Jaspreet Singh, originally from Phagwara, Punjab, moved to Bergamo, Italy, 22 years ago with his parents. Despite the relocation, he has not forgotten his native language or his connection to his hometown. The initial days in Italy were challenging as his father, Tirath Singh, and mother, Jasvir Kaur, adjusted to life as factory workers in an unfamiliar town.
“It was a big day for my family when we got the chance to migrate to Italy. But we were a bit anxious too, as it was a new country, a new language, and a new culture. Everything was new for us. But I was thinking about how to play cricket, which I used to do as a kid in my town,” Jaspreet told PTI.
Moving to Italy, a country with minimal cricket infrastructure, was tough for Jaspreet. He
joined the local Bergamo Cricket Club, a modest facility, and completed a two-year electrician course to help his father. However, he soon found a way to improve his cricket skills with help from Indian expats at the local gurudwara. They advised him to move to England to play cricket on turf wickets, and he worked as an Uber driver to cover his expenses while staying in Birmingham.
“I used to play 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 like in Punjab,” Jaspreet said. “When I learned about it, I started playing after moving to England because they had turf wickets. I had to find a way to meet the expenses, so I took to driving Uber, which also gave me a lot of flexibility in time.”
Jaspreet’s hard work paid off as he made his debut for Italy against Norway in 2019. Italy nearly qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup, but a narrow defeat to Ireland dashed their hopes. However, they fulfilled 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. Our team has been working very hard for the last three years, and we are thankful 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 their roles, and we are still working very hard. We have not only come to participate in the World Cup, but we have also come to compete,” he said.
For Jaspreet, visiting India is not just a return to his homeland but also an opportunity to experience the world-class cricket facilities there. “This is an amazing feeling for us. I have been watching these grounds since my childhood. Our 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 aspect, Jaspreet acknowledged that the experience would help the team adapt to Indian conditions and stadium dimensions. “It is helpful because you get to know the conditions here, what the dimension, and how the wicket plays. Is it good for spin or fast? We are checking the conditions, and we have 15 good boys. According to the wicket, they will play the best combination.”
The 32-year-old hopes the team management can take notes on the facilities to enhance the Italian system. “The players are very good, with strong skill sets. But the problem lies with the structure. With the World Cup, we hope the facilities will improve. We have played in Chennai, and now we are going to Kolkata and then to Mumbai. It’s a chance for us to learn about stadiums and wickets and then apply that knowledge in Italy. Hopefully, we can impress with our performances, as such opportunities do not come often,” he concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)
