When the BCCI Men's Selection Committee on Monday (July 6) announced squad for the upcoming three-T20I series against Zimbabwe, there was a notable inclusion in it.
Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh earned his maiden India call-up on the back of strong domestic and IPL performances.
In an exclusive chat with TOI, Prabhsimran shared his first reaction on national selection and how the news left his ailing father delighted.
Prabhsimran’s father, Sardar Surjit Singh, suffers from severe kidney issues and undergoes regular dialysis. His health is usually so fragile that he struggles to get out of bed independently.
Upon hearing the monumental news of his son's selection, the sheer joy motivated him to stand up on his own.
"Kaafi time ke baad aaya hai paaji. Hum sab wait kar rahe the. Waheguru da shukar hai [It has come after a long wait, paaji. We had all been waiting for it. Thank God]," Prabhsimran said.
"Papa ki tabiyat aisi hai ki woh khud se uth nahi paate [My father's health is such that he can't even get up on his own]. But when we told him the news, he got up by himself.
“If this happiness can improve his health by even one percent, it would mean the world to me. Woh bas yahi bol rahe the, 'Ab ja raha hai to neeche nahi aana.' Aur bas ek hi baat kahi - 'Aur mehnat karo [He just kept saying, 'Now that you're going, don't come back down.' And he told me only one thing: 'Work even harder],' " he added.
Prabhsimran’s remarkable progression in the IPL—from 358 runs in 2023 to consecutive 500-plus run seasons in 2025 and 2026—culminated in him getting rewarded with a place in the national side.
The 25-year-old expressed deep gratitude for the consistent playing opportunities provided by his IPL franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) in recent years, highlighting how a stable role allowed him to finally showcase his true potential and transition from a domestic club cricketer to the international stage.
"I had been waiting for this for a long time because earlier I didn't get enough opportunities to play. Once I started getting proper chances, I just tried to give my best and things went well. I have had two good seasons in a row. So somewhere, I did have the hope that I would get an opportunity on one of the tours. But I wasn't thinking too much about it because my mindset has always been the same - whether it's a district club match or an IPL game, I just want to perform well. The IPL is such a big stage. If you do well there, everything gets noticed. I'm grateful that I've got this opportunity. I just pray that things go well there too," he stated.
His shift in mindset—from hitting explosive cameos to playing match-defining knocks—has successfully transitioned him from a promising young talent into a dependable wicketkeeper-batter.
Reflecting on his transformation, Prabhsimran said: "As you know, this is such a big platform. Earlier, I used to feel that scoring 25 or 30 runs was a good start before getting out. But over the last two years, I have had only one thing on my mind — if I want to sustain myself at this level, I need to add something to my game. My focus has been on converting those 25s and 30s into bigger scores. Sometimes 25 or 30 runs are important too, but if the team loses, those runs don't really mean much. My only aim is that whatever runs I score should contribute to the team's victory. Once I get set, I think about finishing the game."
Prabhsimran Singh also acknowledged India legend Yuvraj Singh’s role in his development, both on and off the field. For him, Yuvraj is just a phone call away whenever he seeks any suggestion.
"Paaji has obviously played a huge role. It's very important to have people who can guide you. Whenever any of us - whether it's me, Abhishek or any other player - get some free time, we can always call Paaji. If we need practice, he arranges it himself. His role has been immense. He also explains how you can take your game one step further," he said.
He also Yuvraj’s reaction to his maiden India call-up. "He was very happy. He said that the moment we had been waiting for for so long had finally arrived. Now the only thing left is to work even harder. I told him, 'Paaji is busy right now. I'll work with him once he's free,'" said Prabhsimran.
(With TOI Inputs)
