Jai Moondra spent many hours studying Vaibhav Sooryavanshi; Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer pay the price for Cricket News:
NEW DELHI: In the week leading up to the two-match T20I series against India, Jai Moondra spent hours plotting plans against teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Before the series, the 15-year-old wonderkid was expected to make his international debut, but the Indian team management decided to stick with their World Cup-winning combination.Although the 15-year-old did not participate in the series, the preparations for Moondra were fruitful. The left-armer quickly picked up five wickets in two matches, including a match-winning spell of 3 for 32 in the second T20I, where he spoiled the new ball with dismissal. Sanju SamsonAbhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. “His main plan was against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Vaibhav eventually missed the game, but Moondra prepared so hard that the hard work still paid off. He dismissed Sanju Samson twice and also took the wickets of Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube. Mohan Singhformer Rajasthan cricketer under his coaching Moondra sharpened his bowling, told TimesofIndia.com.
His main plan is against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Vaibhav was eventually unable to play, but he prepared so hard that the hard work still paid off.
Mohan Singh | Jai Moondra’s coach
Mohan Singh still vividly remembers the night in 2018 when Moondra, who was an engineering student, walked into his Seema Sports Club in Jaipur and said,Sir, meri ball andar nahi aati, woh theek kar do“(“Sir, my ball won’t go in. Please help me fix it.”)For the next three years, Mohan worked on Moondra’s biomechanics, and the Tonk-born cricketer got a chance to become a net bowler for the Bengal Ranji Trophy team in the 2019-20 season.“He was impressed VVS Laxmanwho is the batting consultant of the Bengal team. Arun Lal loved his bowling and Manoj Tiwary also praised him,” recalls Singh.
Jai Moondra (right) with his coach Mohan Singh (Special Arrangement)
Mohan Singh, who worked with the late Tarak Sinha for 15 years, also shared an interesting story about how Moondra impressed “Ustaad ji” at the Sonnet Club in Delhi.“Before Covid. I sent him to Ustaad ji and asked him to take a look. Ustaad ji had a keen eye for talent. Weeks before he died, I remember him asking me about Jai.Kaafi mehnati ladka laga(He seems to be a very hard working boy).”The hard work has not stopped for Moondra, who moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a Master’s degree in Electronics and Communication.“He was a very good batter before he became a bowler. Woh pagal tha cricket ko lekar (He is crazy about cricket),” Jai Moondra’s mother, Vidya Moondra, told this website.“We were surprised when he told us that he was selected for the Irish team. Then he made his debut and played a major role in Ireland’s historic win against India. We were a bit disappointed with India’s loss, but compared to our son’s happiness, everything felt insignificant,” he said with a laugh.After moving to Ireland, Moondra started playing for Leinster Cricket Club in Dublin. He was part of the team that won the club’s Irish Senior Cup in 2023 and also served as a net bowler when India toured Ireland under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah.
Jai Moondra plays for Leinster Cricket Club in Dublin
“Interestingly, VVS Laxman was the coach of the Indian side, and he knew Jai immediately. Even Bumrah shared some tips with him. It was very fruitful for him,” said Mohan Singh.In the past, however, Moondra was juggling work and cricket. He works at Intel, but from 2025 onwards he can only focus on cricket. Within a year, he had become Ireland’s new hero.Moondra’s LinkedIn profile shows that he parted ways with Intel in June 2025 and is currently looking for full-time engineering roles in Ireland and across Europe, with the #OpenToWork badge appearing on his profile. After his sensational debut, however, it appears that his corporate career will have to take a backseat, at least for the next few years, as he is set to become a sought-after name in franchise T20 cricket.Meanwhile, in Tonk, almost 7,100 kilometers away from Belfast, the Moondra home became the center of attention throughout the night. Friends, relatives and curious neighbors came, while the phone hardly stopped ringing.For Vidya Moondra, however, the moment was less about fame and more about gratitude.
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“Sab upar walale ki dua hai, isi tarah desh ka naam roshan kare (Everything is because of the grace of God. I pray he continues to make the country proud),” she said.He admitted that the loss to India was painful, but seeing his son script history in international cricket made this day the family will cherish forever.
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