USA required two runs to win when Harmeet Singh smacked Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah for a boundary in the last over of a T20I match. Two runs were not required just for a win, but to create history. The boundary did not just help USA win, but it created history for USA Cricket.
Harmeet smashed a lofted shot over extra cover to give USA their first-ever T20I win over Bangladesh and only the second over a Full Member nation. Harmeet scored 33 off just 13 balls at the Prairie View Stadium and won player of the match award.
It was undoubtedly a historic win for USA, courtesy of an Indian cricketer, who, as usual, made it look easy to beat Bangladesh. Harmeet initiated the proceedings for USA that later transpired into a series win, in strangely and the only situation, where USA were minnows against Bangladesh.
Harmeet had made his USA debut in the five-match series against Canada, just ahead of their face-off against Bangladesh, and once he was in the side, World Cup dream was not so distant for the all-rounder.
Harmeet, obviously, has been Under-19 World Cup winner for India in 2012 and subsequently moved to USA in 2020 to fulfil his American dream!
As USA host the multi-national tournament, and set up to kick start the proceedings against Canada on June 2 (IST), quite a few eyes will definitely be on Harmeet.
T20 World Cup 2024: USA vs Canada – LIVE
In a freewheeling conversation with CricketNext, during his debut international series against Canada, Harmeet talked about his national call-up, celebrating his family, living the American dream and the prospect of bowling to Virat Kohli and his former Mumbai teammates at the T20 World Cup.
Excerpts…
What was your feeling after being selected for the national side and how important was it for you?
I think when we moved here three years ago, many players from my batch moved with me. The goal was to make it to the national side. Once we are ICC qualified and I think when everything every part of the plan falls in place, [there is] no better feeling than that. I think, this has been one of the better decisions I have made in my career.
Have you had any conversations with your former teammates from India after the selection?
I haven’t got a chance really, but I had a word with Siddhesh Lad a few days ago. Everybody is happy. Mostly I had a word with my family back home and also the family over here. Everybody is happy, especially my family back home you know they know how much struggles I faced back home and now that I am getting my dues, everybody is happy.
How important is the series against Canada for the entire team, building up to World Cup?
It is very important because we are going to play the first game against them in the World Cup as well. And beating them here would make a big statement. For us, I think it’s also very important because we have four or five debutants in the first game. So we also have to start gelling as a group. We have played a lot of cricket together in the last three years or so. But playing for USA is different. Start working together. That is very important and once that happens, I think this team has a lot of potential to beat bigger sides as well.
If we talk a bit about past, the first MLC season last year, how was the experience playing with so many international stars, especially considering that you were yet to make your international debut?
It was very important. I think Major League Cricket gave us the break, gave me the break which I needed and which I missed back home, where in IPL, I got one opportunity and after that did not get any opportunity.
So I think Major League was something where it was sort of an IPL setup where a lot of overseas internationals were there and [it was] very high quality tournament. This is what players aspire to play so it was very good and as a player, I could not have asked for more.
Also, the way it went for the team (Seattle Orcas), we played the finals, we couldn’t make it through but as a group, we played the best cricket out of all the six teams. Seattle Orcas were good right up to the finals.
Having IPL franchises, owning some of the franchises there as well, would have been an experience close to IPL. This year, MLC is going to be after the World Cup. Do you think it would have been better if it was before the World Cup?
It could have been better. But I think they couldn’t get the dates or even the stadium because ICC blocks the stadiums before the World Cup.
We have to hand over stadiums 15 days prior or something. I think it works out well when it’s after the World Cup right now. Overall, if you look at it in a positive way, after the World Cup, there will be a lot of hype about the game. Major League might get more traction also. It might work out well.
How big is it for USA to host an event like T20 World Cup?
I think there is potential in this country and so much talent that people sitting in India or anywhere in the world don’t realize the talent out here.
The problem is the facilities. We don’t have that many practice facilities here. Guys playing for their national side also practice indoors but I think the commitment the guys show and how they make it here is something to look up to. I think, for all of us, it means a lot that this World Cup goes well and because USA is a market where, if cricket picks up, it can be the best thing that has ever happened to cricket. It’s very important for the game.
Okay, so when you talk about the cricket market in USA, there are a lot of Indian fans there. So how happy are they considering that the World Cup is happening there?
Yeah, I think Dallas where the World Cup is going to happen and New York, we have a lot of subcontinent population, not just Indian population. We have so many diverse cultures out there and everybody loves the game.
It wouldn’t be a challenge to fill up Dallas especially, because I know the local area. New York also, because there are a lot of neighbouring cities where you can drive to New York and watch the games.
I think it is going to be an experience of a lifetime for USA fans to watch all the greats of the game in a World Cup scenario in USA. As a cricket fan, they couldn’t have asked for more.
You moved to USA and will now play a home World Cup for USA as an international player. So how big is this tournament for you?
Personally, I’ve always aspired to play a cricket world cup and now that it’s happening and playing for the US, it’s going to be something which I will look up to and I want to make sure that I put my best foot forward and try to…
Right now, I am not in a stage where I am thinking too much. I am taking things as they come. I am trying to bowl my best wherever I am playing. It can be a club game; it can be a country game; it can be a Major League game. I am in a phase where I feel, mentally, I am very sorted.
I don’t want to think too much about the situation and get over board And I want to go out there and be at my absolute best. That is my goal.
You touched upon your family a while back, so can you take us a little deeper into it? What was their reaction when knew that you are going to play for USA?
Family’s reactions are always priceless and especially my wife, the kids are very small but then my daughter understands a little bit what I am saying. They did come to watch the first game also. It was very special and, family back home, my dad, my sister, everybody called in and the happiness they show is unparalleled.
They have actually lived the dream with me and it has taken a long time coming for me. Now that it’s there, I feel I am ready to take up any challenge actually coming my way.
You recently bought a house there. There have been struggles. Obviously, moving to the USA from India would not have been easy, so do you consider this as a very big milestone in your personal life?
Yeah, definitely. USA has been like, since the time I moved here, a dream run. I would not say that we did not struggle here. Comparing to what I was doing back home, I think I would not call this a struggle. I would call this a grind where I was getting promoted. I was seeing a path where I can grow, whereas back home I was seeing dead ends after dead ends.
Here [in USA], I was growing as a player and growing my family at the same time. All the performances that I used to put in back home and now, which I put in here, is a big difference. There is a lot of appreciation. I am not saying that back home they don’t, but then my case was slightly different. Clearly, I did not get the opportunities I desired. I am very grateful that I was given a chance to move here, actually.
Last time we talked about the idea of you bowling to your former teammates Suryakumar Yadav or Shreyas Iyer. Now that might come true very soon. How do you see bowling to someone like Suryakumar or Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma for that matter?
All the Bombay boys, I have bowled them a lot so I am very comfortable. It might just be like a home feeling when I bowl to them and I think bowling to Virat will be special if I get a chance, or anyone, else would also be special.
Any specific wickets that you would want to take from the Indian side?
All these are controversial questions. I will try to take wicket of whomever I bowl; I would like to get them out.
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