The most impactful T20I performer: Who is Virandeep Singh? | The Express Tribune

KARACHI:

Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh, former captain and flamboyant all-rounder’s goal is to transcend beyond the label of associate cricketer and his specialty is delivering impactful performances.

He recently became the first all-rounder to score 3,000 runs and take 100 wickets in T20Is. He has the most Player of the Match awards under his belt in the shortest format of the game with 22.

“The reality is, as an associate cricketer, those records don’t carry the same weight in the eyes of the world,” he lamented. “Cricket is cricket, no matter the level, but the value attached to performances is much lower for us,” said Singh during an exclusive interview.

The 26-year-old is also the fifth-fastest batter to reach 3,000 T20I runs, achieving the milestone in just 98 innings.

The wicket-keeper made history by becoming the youngest player to represent his country at the international level, at just 15 years of age. He transitioned from a bowler to a hard-hitting batter.

Still, he remains in the shadows, struggling to gain the recognition he deserves.

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singh was introduced to cricket through his father, who had played the game in school.

Initially, more inclined toward football, he began playing cricket in primary school, following in his brother’s footsteps.

At just ten years old, he joined the Royal Selangor Club, getting his first taste of leather-ball cricket.
Although, he didn’t love the game at first, India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup ignited his passion for cricket.

He dreamed of representing his own country on the world stage, from that point on.

Destined to play

His natural ability, hard work, and consistent performances set him on a remarkable journey and at 13, he was selected for the Malaysia U-16, at 14, he had made the Malaysia U-19 team, and at 15, he was selected for the senior team.

In age-group cricket, Singh delivered a series of impressive performances with both bat and ball, earning him a call-up to selection matches, which eventually landed him in the national team. The selection, however, came with a whirlwind of emotions and drama.

“Malaysia had a tour to Dubai for the ACC Premier Cup. I got called up for the selection games and scored a couple of fifties, which earned me a spot in the top 18 as a bowler. I was in the reserve four, not traveling with the team,” he recalled.

“Then, during training, one of my teammates twisted his ankle during a fitness drill, and I was told I’d be traveling with the team as his replacement. I was over the moon.”

But just as quickly, his excitement faded because another player was chosen in his place at the last moment.

Still, Singh refused to lose hope. Fate intervened again when one of the players was denied entry into the country, paving the way for his debut.

In his first outing, batting at number five, he scored 23 runs off 17 deliveries.

“I wasn’t really nervous,” he said. “It was easier because I was too young to think about the consequences. When you’re young, you’re fearless.”

Getting selected for the national team was just the beginning. In an age of fast-paced T20 cricket, Singh was a more traditional, steady batter, having played a few 20-over games at the junior level. He soon realized he needed to adapt to the demands of the modern game.

“My role back then was to bat for long periods and be the guy who finished games for the team. I played plenty of innings where I’d face over 100 balls and score barely 50 runs, which worked for the longer formats at that time,” he shared.

Malaysia’s status-change spelt new role for Singh

When Malaysia gained T20I status in 2019, everything changed. He knew scoring runs was not enough; creating impact was essential.

“Teams look for that quick-fire 40 off 20 balls, rather than run-a-ball 50,” he shared.

“This form of cricket didn’t come naturally to me. In the beginning, I struggled a lot. I even remember crying to my psychologist, saying,

‘I’m just not made for T20 cricket.’ I worked incredibly hard, spent hours with my coach, and even then, I wasn’t happy with my strike rate.

“I told myself that if I wanted to break into elite leagues and make a name for myself, I had to evolve and play a different brand of cricket.”

Singh’s evolution

Singh, a left-arm slow bowler, evolved his game and transformed himself into an explosive batter who could bowl handy overs at any stage of the game, the perfect recipe for a T20 all-rounder.

The Malaysian star admires Virat Kohli’s mental strength and AB de Villiers’ sheer skill, but his biggest inspiration is Australia’s power-hitter Tim David.

The Aussie, who previously played for Singapore, used the Pakistan Super League as a platform to catch the attention of Australia’s selectors.

“I really admire David because of the way he has transformed himself. I remember watching him play for Singapore early on, and now to see him evolve into such an explosive, in-demand batsman is incredible,” Singh said.

“There’s even a video of him absolutely smashing Malaysia in a game — he scored 90-odd in around 30 balls. I was the wicket-keeper that day, so I had the best seat in the house. Even though my bowlers were getting taken apart, I loved watching him bat. It was a special innings and a reminder of just how good he is.”

David’s story gives hope to Singh and many associate cricketers, though he acknowledges the vast difference in exposure and opportunity he got, having played his initial years of cricket in Australia. “I’d love to share a dressing room with him someday, there’s so much to learn from a player like David.”

Now, Singh has begun to gain international attention, earning contracts in global leagues such as GT20 Canada and the UAE’s ILT20, where he has shared the dressing room with stars like Marcus Stoinis, Sunil Narine, Mohammad Nabi, and Tim Southee.

But, he is not satisfied yet.

The Malaysian star wants his team to qualify for the coming editions of the T20 World Cup — a milestone he believes would transform cricket in Malaysia and put him and his teammates on the radar of top global leagues like the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League, and Caribbean Premier League.

“On a personal level, I want to break into more franchise leagues and build a career that allows me to retire comfortably after cricket,” he stated.

He calls on financially strong individuals and corporations to support cricket and other sports in Malaysia to give a platform to talented younger athletes to showcase their skills and make a career out of it.

Singh’s career reflects the larger story of associate cricket — where extraordinary performances often unfold beyond mainstream attention.

As he and Malaysia strive for greater recognition, their journey raises a simple question for the cricketing world: how many more talents like him are waiting to be seen?