Born in India, forged in Ireland, meet Jai Moondra:Left job at Intel for cricket, says, ‘playing against India will be different experience’

Rajasthan’s Jai Moondra has been selected for the Ireland cricket team. Jai, a resident of Tonk, will play against India in the T20 series starting on June 26. 28-year-old Jai went to Ireland on a student visa in 2021 to pursue M.Tech studies. During this time, he worked there and received Irish citizenship in 2025. He was selected for the Ireland cricket team for his aggressive bowling and excellent batting. His family, residing in Tonk city, is very happy with this achievement. His mother said, “My son has made my dream come true.” Jai’s brother also plays for the Sweden team. A Bhaskar App reporter spoke to his family about Jai’s achievement. Read this report… Mother said – Son fulfilled father’s dream Jai’s mother Vidya, who manages the family business, said, “Jai’s father Giriraj Moondra has passed away. Now his son is playing for the Ireland cricket team. He is being discussed in the country; this is a moment of pride for us. Jai’s father’s dream was for him to become a great cricketer. Today his dream has come true. If he were with us today, he would have been very proud of his son’s success.” She added, “He is playing for Ireland instead of India, but the happiness is that his hard work has been recognised and he has got a place in the national team.” Sister said – He used to be very mischievous in childhood Younger sister Mansi said, “We all jumped with joy at the news of my brother’s selection in Ireland’s National Cricket Team. Brother was very mischievous in childhood. Many times he would scold me, and I would start crying, and then Dad would scold him. We both had a lot of fun in childhood. Now that he lives abroad, I miss him a lot.” Brother plays for Sweden’s cricket team Jai’s uncle, Kanhaiyalal Moondra, said, “There is no professional cricketer in the family before. Nephew Jai and my son Ajay Moondra had a passion for cricket since childhood. Recognising his talent, the family gave him every opportunity to progress. Jai had also trained in cricket in Bengaluru before the Corona period.” Kanhaiyalal said that Jai plays for Ireland, while his son Ajay plays for the Sweden cricket team. Uncle said – Passion made him an international star Uncle Ashok Kumar says, “Jai is not only smart in studies but also a cricket enthusiast. He used to play cricket for hours at home and in the street. Many times, people at home would get hurt by his ball, after which he would get scolded. Today, that same passion has brought him to the international cricket stage. Today he is an international star.” Distanced himself from cricket for studies, left job at Intel for cricket team Jai Moondra recounts: There came a time when he distanced himself from cricket to focus on his studies. During college days, he only played cricket as a hobby. While bowling medium pace with a tennis ball, he started playing cricket with a leather ball, then gradually his bowling speed increased. Now I bowl at a speed of 140 kilometres per hour. After completing college in 2019, he felt that if he took a corporate job, his cricket dream would remain unfulfilled. Because of this, he left the job he had secured at Intel in Ireland and put his entire focus on cricket. Initially associated with a local cricket club Jai said that initially in Ireland, he played for Leinster, a famous cricket club in Dublin. Then in 2023, he was part of the team that won the Irish Senior Cup. This experience was the most memorable achievement of his life. Jai said, “Playing international cricket has always been my dream. I got this opportunity from Ireland. Playing against India will be a different experience. Performing well against one of the world’s best teams will be very special for me.” Has also been part of the Rajasthan team Left-arm fast bowler Jai Moondra has been a part of the Tonk and Rajasthan Under-14 teams while studying in Tonk. Apart from this, he has also participated in several state-level cricket competitions in Rajasthan.