Virandeep Singh, a name synonymous with Malaysian cricket, has carved a niche for himself as a talented all-rounder and a key figure in his nation’s cricketing landscape. As the first Malaysian to score a T20I century, Virandeep has consistently showcased his skills on the international stage. In our exclusive interview with, he shared insights into his cricketing journey, his inspirations, memorable moments, and future aspirations, providing a glimpse into the mindset of a rising cricketing star.

From following in his brother’s footsteps during school cricket to representing Malaysia at the senior level, Virandeep’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. His passion for the game and commitment to continuous improvement is evident in every anecdote and experience he shares. Let’s dive into the candid conversation with the young cricketer, who is determined to make his mark on the global stage.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

Q: Share your cricketing journey with us. How did it all begin?

Virandeep: I think just like many others out there I think started at the school level. I had the opportunity to pick a spot in school and it was actually my brother I followed him. He played cricket for school so there’s a two years gap between me and my brother and yeah so when he joined school at the age of seven I was five at that time and we had to pick a spot in school so my parents were like okay why don’t we pick cricket and from then on actually before I even joined school I was already joining his training sessions and stuff that’s how it all began for me and yeah after that slowly moved on to play Club level at the age of 10. I started playing for the RSC at the age of 10 that’s when I actually played like proper hard ball cricket and stuff and then from then on played for the state got the opportunity to play for under 16 Malaysia and from then on under 19 and then the senior level as well so yeah it’s been great I would say a lot of experience to gain from and a lot to learn from throughout the journey as well but yeah it’s just started I’m still very young so it’s a long way to go.

Q: Tell us about you role models and how have they influenced your game?

Virandeep: I’ve always had different role models for different reasons I would say like if I break it down into like today cricket is such a fast-moving game and there’s a lot of power hitting and stuff involved so when it comes to power hitting and stuff I love watching Tim David. I think I’ve played against him quite a bit I mean a few matches when he was playing for Singapore so Malaysia and Singapore we always play a lot against each other so yeah see someone that I’ve really looked up to and I feel like I want to of course I wouldn’t say I want a bat like him but you know the impact that he can create on the game I really appreciate that and I love watching that I want to learn as much as I can from him and I think he’s got very good power hitting techniques as well so for now I would say Tim David is one of the role models that I have.

Of course when it comes to fitness and stuff then Virat Kohli is someone who is really up there and I mean of course a lot of people mention his name but yeah I think there just a lot to learn from him as well you know his attitude and his approach to the game as well he’s really aggressive he’s really is willing to do anything for his team, to win the game and stuff so yeah those are some of the things that I look and pick and try to emulate and stuff because I wouldn’t really give you one name because that’s how I look at things whenever I watch cricket and stuff. I always want to pick up things from each and every one and that’s where you learn I guess so yeah; I would say for now those two and if you ask me the same question maybe in in in the next year or in the coming six months that may change as well so for now those are the two place that I’m looking

I’ve played some under 19 cricket like the Asia cup under 19 and stuff. One was held in Malaysia and then we played the emerging cup as well so I played against the under 19 guys I think and Shubman Gill and all these guys but we’ve not played against Virat Kohli.

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Q: How did it feel to be the first Malaysian to score a T20I century?

Virandeep: I think playing T20 cricket is something that I love. We are not a Test nation, we don’t have red ball cricket in the country I mean of course I have played some red ball cricket back then and I think after that we realized that there’s no point really for us to play red ball cricket and that’s why we started playing more white ball stuff and I think with the T20I international status coming in for all the countries, I think that opened the doors for everyone if you ask me because I think T20 cricket you spend three hours you know on the field and you go home you play 50 over cricket you play eight hours and it’s a very long game right so I would consider ourselves as semi pro I wouldn’t say we are professional cricketers.

I would say we are semi-professional cricketers so playing T20 cricket is something that we all enjoy doing and stuff and sixes and fours and wickets that’s something that we all enjoy so yeah the T20 International. I was I was opening at that time but now of course I’m betting at 3 four and stuff but I was opening batter back then and it was yeah very clear roles given to me by my coach and stuff and just for me to go and express myself and hit as many boundaries as you can and I guess it was my day.

Q: Your brother Pawandeep is also a cricketer. Do you guys exchange tips on and off the field?

Virandeep: I think one good thing about us is that I’m a batter and he’s a bowler so it really helps us because we can actually share in terms of I wouldn’t really say in terms of techniques and stuff we don’t really speak much about techniques but it’s all about like reading the batter’s mind like he comes and says that okay what do you think I should do when he’s bowling and stuff what do you think with the field set should I put this field or should I put that field and stuff or what do you think he’s going to try to do now is he going to try to attack or do you think they’re going to play a few hours out and maybe and then they’re going to take charge and what is the batter strength and or he’s maybe he’s holding the bat this way so what do you think we should be doing and stuff so yeah all those small things where that’s the best one I will understand and I can share that with him and of course when he bows as well with the new ball so then I also ask him some questions and stuff on what he’s trying to do and stuff so it’s basically more about the thinking part like trying to be one step ahead of the batter or being one step ahead of the bowler so yeah that really helps.

Just say after we have played a game and stuff we come back and then we have like we just analyze maybe on the way back when you’re driving back from the grounds and stuff we just analyzing okay what you think we could have done better and you know today I couldn’t really do something or today was a good day for me and stuff so yeah it’s always nice to have someone that you can discuss cricket with and I love talking about the game. I’m a huge fan of sharing and talking and trying to learn as much as I can and stuff so yeah it’s nice to have him around and just speak about cricket it really makes a difference.

Q: Most memorable moment of your career so far?

Virandeep: If there’s one Innings that comes to my mind is when I made a fifty against India under 19. I was playing against India 19 and I made a 50 against them and at that time I was yeah I was 18. I was playing my last under 19 tournament that’s when I made my 50 against India. I think that was special to me. Just to share with you in my life I I’ve always believe that I’ve had this I play okay for example this small incident that has happened that really helped me change my mindset so for example before that maybe my confidence level was low or maybe I didn’t really have a clue of how good. So whenever I played this one small Innings I think this has helped me become a better player after that so the way I played against India but whatever that I made 50 or whatever it’s not about the run that I was moving on to senior cricket and that’s when I realized that okay I can actually play. I belong at I feel like I can you know do my best I can play anybody so. if I can play that’s how I used to think right because when you’re young and you’re thinking oh I can play India of course you play the name and now you understand that it’s all about playing the ball.

The second that comes to my mind is the Innings against Bangladesh. We lost the game sadly and stuff but that’s something that honestly I don’t really like talking about that because of the way we lost that and stuff but yeah that’s another Innings that made me believe or actually I would say made the team belief not it’s not only about me it’s also about the team because it helped us believe okay yes we can compete you know we can compete against the best and stuff so I feel like yeah those small moments that that happen and stuff and that really helps us all grew as cricketers.

Q: Do you have any plans to play in the IPL?

Virandeep: That’s a dream for every player out there I would say if you ask any cricketer who is playing for their country of course they would want to play in the IPL one day and that’s like the ultimate goal but of course I do understand I’m not living in a in a Dreamland and stuff I understand what the challenges are and how we can actually move up and one day play in the IPL and stuff but I think that I’ve got that goal but I feel that I need to achieve those smaller stuff first for me to before I can actually think of there’s no harm thinking is free dreaming doing that but of course I want make sure that I’m doing the right things at this level first. No issues with not being where I want to be yet I think that’s absolutely fine and I’m just enjoying every day as it comes and I’m just making sure that I’m doing the right things.

Watch the full interview:

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