Jai Moondra was, by his own admission, speechless last Friday when National Men’s Selector, Andrew White, rang him to inform him of his call-up to the Ireland Men’s T20 squad – but he is determined to not let the occasion of a series against the world champions, India, pass him by.
Moondra, 29, was born in Tonk, a small town near Jaipur in India. He moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Electronics and Communication. He has been playing cricket from a very early age and joined an Academy to develop his fast bowling technique. During his time at that Academy, Moondra developed his batting skills and gave spin bowling a go to the extent that at age 16 he was classified as a top-order batter and left-arm spinner.
Speaking today after training, Moondra said:
“Then I chose to prioritise my studies and took a step back from cricket. I played casually for passion. In college, I started medium pace with a tennis ball, then eventually 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 after college in 2019, I thought my cricket journey would be over if I got a full-time corporate job. I wanted to give myself a last chance with cricket. So, I quit!”
At the age of 24, Moondra relocated to Ireland and started 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 in the Irish domestic scene is very exciting. At the 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 hard it is to win that competition. You compete against very strong clubs all over Ireland. Making it through the finals and actually winning it was a proud moment for our club. That’s a feeling I would love to remember always.”
Cricket is more than just a hobby for the bowling all-rounder:
“We know cricket is a sport, but it is not just about technical skills. It is about mentality, preparation, and many different aspects. It tests you from every angle. Every match, every ball is a chance to test yourself. Every day is different. I love the pressure of big moments and the feeling of improving.
“And we all know cricket humbles you quickly. You fail more than you win. But I always want to test 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 need to do the work to get to that level. I love to push myself and see how high I can go in cricket.
“To play international cricket was always a dream. I’m really grateful to Cricket Ireland for giving me this opportunity. While I set goals for myself, I also focus on each game. I have targets, but I don’t get stressed about the future. I try to enjoy the moment – and that’s what I intend to do with the India series. I know it’s going to be a massive challenge – playing against India is another class of feeling, but to perform against one of the best teams in the world would be something special.”
Moondra’s approach to bowling is about building pressure:
“As a left-arm bowler, my angle is my strength. With the new ball, I try to use the swing, hit the pad, hit the stumps, and get a few across the batter. My intention is to not be predictable and try to get some edges. I want to be aggressive, put pressure on the batter, and make them uncomfortable in the hope that they make mistakes and create opportunities to get early wickets.
“Throughout the innings, I like to mix up my pace and use variations like slower balls and cutters. I try to see every ball as an opportunity to take a partnership apart.
“With the bat, I back myself to adapt to circumstances – whether I need to be aggressive or play a long, patient innings. My view is that flexibility is key.”
An unabashed lover of Test cricket, Moondra has, however, enjoys playing several other sports:
“I love playing badminton, volleyball, table tennis, and soccer. I got bit of recognition at school and college level in those sports, but cricket has always been my main priority, so I don’t get much time for other sports. I still love playing them though.”
IRELAND MEN’S SQUAD
The squad is::
- Lorcan Tucker (c)
- Ross Adair
- Ben Calitz
- Gareth Delany
- George Dockrell
- Stephen Doheny
- Matthew Humphreys
- Gavin Hoey
- Matthew Hollard
- Liam McCarthy
- Jai Moondra
- Harry Tector
- Tim Tector
- Reuben Wilson
FIXTURES
- 26 June 2026: Ireland Men v India Men – 1st T20I (Stormont; starts 1.30pm)
- 28 June 2026: Ireland Men v India Men – 2nd T20I (Stormont; starts 1.30pm)
HOW TO WATCH, FOLLOW OR ATTEND
Watch:
- In Ireland / UK, TNT Sports will show every match
- Rest of the world:
- Willow /Cricbuzz (North America, South East Asia, Middle East, North Africa, and Continental Europe)
- Sony (India)
- Supersport (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- Sky NZ (New Zealand)
- Tapmad (Pakistan)
Follow:
- You can see all the match scores via www.cricketireland.ie
