Jai Moondra was, by his own admission, speechless last Friday when men’s national coach Andrew White called him to inform him of his call-up to Ireland’s men’s T20 team, but he is determined not to pass up the opportunity of a series against world champions India.
Moondra, 29, was born in Tonk, a small town near Jaipur in India. He moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a Masters in Electronics and Communication. He has been playing cricket since he was very young and joined an academy to develop his fast bowling technique. During his time at that Academy, Moondra developed his batting skills and tried his hand at spin bowling to the extent that at the age of 16 he was classified as a top-order batsman and a left-arm spinner.
Speaking after training today, Moondra said:
“Then I chose to prioritize my studies and moved away from cricket. I played casually out of passion. In college, I started at medium pace with a tennis ball and then eventually with a leather ball for my college cricket team. I started picking up pace and that excited me. I developed a love for fast bowling again. but aAfter university in 2019, I thought my cricket journey would end if I got a full-time corporate job. I wanted to give myself one last chance at cricket. So I quit!
At the age of 24, Moondra moved to Ireland and began playing for Leinster Cricket Club in Dublin. He was part of the Irish Senior Cup winning team in 2023 and will cherish that experience for the rest of his life:
“Playing on the Irish domestic scene is very exciting. At club level, you have competitive teams and a very welcoming environment – good people and a good atmosphere. That kind of environment helps you grow as a cricketer.
“And yes, winning the Irish Senior Cup was a class feeling. You know how difficult it is to win that competition. You compete against very strong clubs all over Ireland. Getting to the final and winning it was a proud moment for our club. It’s a feeling I would love to always remember.”
Cricket is more than just a pastime for bowlers:
“We know cricket is a sport, but it’s not just about technical skills. It’s about mentality, preparation and many different aspects. It tests you from every angle. Every match, every ball is an opportunity to test yourself. Every day is different. I love the pressure of big moments and the feeling of improving.
“And we all know that cricket humbles you quickly. You fail more than you win. But I always want to try and perform on the best platform, against the best teams and the best players. The learning curve never stops. No player is complete; you are always learning. That challenge makes me work harder. You have to work harder to get to that level. I love pushing myself and seeing how far I can go in cricket.
“Playing international cricket has always been a dream. I am very grateful to Cricket Ireland for giving me this opportunity. While I set goals, I also concentrate on each game. I have goals, but I don’t stress about the future. I try to enjoy the moment and that is what I intend to do with the India series. I know it will be a huge challenge: playing against India is a different feeling, but playing against one of the best teams in the world would be something special.”
Moondra’s approach to bowling is to build pressure:
“As a left-arm bowler, my angle is my strong point. With the new ball, I try to use swing, hit the pad, hit the stumps and get some over the batsman. My intention is not to be predictable and try to get some advantages. I want to be aggressive, put pressure on the batsman and make him uncomfortable in the hope that he makes mistakes and creates opportunities for early wickets.
“Throughout the innings, I like to vary my pace and use variations like slower balls and cutters. I try to see each ball as an opportunity to dismantle a partnership.
“With the bat, I rely on myself to adapt to circumstances, whether I need to be aggressive or play long, patient innings. My view is that flexibility is key.”
An unabashed lover of Test cricket, Moondra enjoys playing other sports:
“YO I love playing badminton, volleyball, table tennis and soccer. I got a bit of recognition at school and college in those sports, but cricket has always been my main priority, so I don’t have much time for other sports. I still love playing them though.”
IRELAND MEN’S TEAM
The squad is::
- Lorcan Tucker (c)
- ross adair
- ben calitz
- Gareth Delany
- George Dockrell
- Esteban Doheny
- Matthew Humphreys
- Gavin Hoey
- Matthew Hollard
- Liam McCarthy
- Jai Moondra
- Harry Tector
- Tim Tector
- Ruben Wilson
ACCESSORIES
- June 26, 2026: Ireland Men – India Men – 1street T20I (Stormont; starts at 1.30pm)
- June 28, 2026: Ireland Men – India Men – 2North Dakota T20I (Stormont; starts at 1.30pm)
HOW TO WATCH, FOLLOW OR ATTEND
Look:
- In Ireland/UK, TNT Sports will show all matches
- Rest of the world:
- Willow /Cricbuzz (North America, Southeast Asia, Middle East, North Africa and continental Europe)
- Sony (India)
- Supersport (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- Sky NZ (New Zealand)
- Tapmad (Pakistan)
Continue:
