Harmeet Singhformer India Under-19 World Cup The champion has charted an extraordinary path in cricket and is now representing a team USA On the global scene. Born and raised in Mumbai, Harmeet's journey began with a passion for football and later moved on to cricket when a summer camp revealed his talent. His early days were marked by record-breaking performances in school cricket alongside stars like Rohit Sharma, and under the guidance of legendary coach Padmakar Shivalkar. Harmeet fondly remembers these formative years as the foundation for his cricketing dreams.
In an exclusive chat with Cricket Times, Harmeet revealed how he faced many challenges in the USA, from adapting to the emerging cricket infrastructure to balancing family life amidst a busy schedule. However, his determination paid off, as demonstrated by his team's stunning win over… Pakistan in 2024 T20 World Cup. Reflecting on his stint in the IPL with Rajasthan Royals Maintaining his relationships with his U19 teammates, Harmeet continues to inspire with his resilience and vision for the growth of cricket in the USA.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Q: How did your cricketing journey begin?
Harmit: Just like any other child in India. I used to play football in my school, I was in St Joseph's Orlem, Malad and then I grew up till 5th grade playing football but after that I also used to play cricket in my building and flats with friends and all that so there was a summer camp which my parents put me up near our house So I went there. I love this sport and when you play with an actual cricket ball it is different and the coaches also said that you have talent so you should pursue this sport and then without knowing to think twice I actually started playing cricket and also changed my school to Swami. Vivekananda, Borivali where Rohit (Rohit Sharma) They also studied and cricket was their main sport and then we went on to break records for the Harris Shield where Dilip Sardesai sir saw me and at Bombay Gymkhana, that's how I started.
Q: Who was your role model growing up?
Harmit: The first was my coach Padmakar Shivalkar Sir and for me the way he picked 600 first-class wickets and couldn't make his debut at international level speaks a lot about his class and perseverance as he never gave up and kept going so that's a very good example and then I used it again to watch a lot of Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly Growing up you know the left hand, so yes, like on screen, I loved watching Yuvraj and Sourav.
Q: What challenges did you face after moving to the United States of America?
Harmit: In the United States it wasn't easy because when I came here there was nothing like in what we see now of major league and minor league, where the domestic cricket team in the United States is doing well and you know the contracts and all that didn't exist so and also The infrastructure, the stadium in Dallas that wasn't there but we were told that all this would come in 3-4 years whatever it was 2, 3, 4 years and again I bet and when I went there during the coronavirus there was no first class season in India. Until that year in 2020, I felt like I wouldn't do anything in the meantime, I'd rather go there and check things out no matter what and then I liked Seattle, so I signed there and they did my visa and everything and then I moved there with my family.
I had my kids here, so it wasn't easy for my wife to also, you know, take care of because I was always traveling and playing training and working, so again she chose not to work because the kids were young, so all that and then we moved to Houston now so I travel less When I am at home and now I play international cricket a lot so it is difficult for the family. This is the life I always wanted as a cricketer so again no complaints but you know you have to at every stage you go through in life, you will always have little challenges but again you have to embrace it and find a solution out of it. He – she.
also Read: Exclusive interview with American rising star Anika Colan: Role models, U19 leadership, favorite cricketers of all time
Q: How did you feel after defeating Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup?
Harmit: I think since we won that game, not only did we win the game, but we also went on to have a very tough game against India and South Africa, so we moved a lot of pieces there in the World Cup and a lot of people were shocked to see the talent that we have. But if you see after the World Cup there are a lot of USA players who are starting to get a lot of interest in the franchise so what I feel is you know franchise cricket and what it does is you compete with the best with the best in you and around you and you know you You make a name for yourself and that only helps you do better.
Just like Afghanistan has gone from strength to strength and their men are now trusted as one of the best cricketers, so wherever you go, if it's an Afghan player they will pick him straight away, so I think that's the name we want to have as we move towards that, as if There are a few guys who are getting consistent chances, there are a few players in and out of cricket, so I think it will grow from here and you know how you develop. It's it's really exciting and you know we now have one proper stadium or maybe two proper stadiums but in the coming years if we have a very good infrastructure, you know a national center like Australia or any Test playing nation uh to train fast bowlers and everything so I think why not We have everything then.
Q: Are you still in touch with your U19 teammates?
Harmeet: Yes, we talk every now and then about Vihari (Hanuman Vihari) sent a text message between them he wanted me to help one of the Hyderabad players get to the US and so yes he was always nice and Sandeep (Sandeep Sharma) Here, there and then Kamal Basi He is a good friend from the World Cup and afterwards. And even Mandeep Singh He is a good friend I played world cup 2010 also so yes Sanju(Sanju Samson(I met in the World Cup, Kuldeep)Kuldeep Yadav(I also played a lot of cricket, Chahal)Yuzvendra Chahal(And all these men are therefore Axar)Axar Patel) I was there in the India U19 team when we went to the Asia Cup, one of the tours I think, yes at that time we were all on the same level and playing together and now at least I am happy that the three of them are playing for India, which is very good.
Q: You were part of the Rajasthan Royals team in the IPL. Tell us about that experience?
Harmit: It was one of the best things and also became one of the scariest things later when all the repair stuff happened but it's the best in the sense that I shared a dressing room with her Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane And all the supporters of world cricket. Brad Hodge was there, one of the best cricketers or the best T20 player, so all those experiences that I gained from there, I still try to use them in my career. I hope I get more chances in the IPL but I only got one game so again I won't say I failed there but if there were enough chances and I failed then it was good but I just wish there were more opportunities with white ball cricket . India.
