Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza has described his Indian Premier League (IPL) journey as a deeply memorable experience, shaped not only by cricket but by the people, places, and everyday moments he encountered across India.
Looking back on his time with Punjab Kings, Raza emphasized how welcomed he felt throughout his stay. “In the IPL, the people of Punjab absolutely loved me, respected me, and completely owned me as one of their own,” he said, reflecting on the connection he built with fans and locals alike.
For Raza, the experience extended well beyond stadiums and training sessions, offering opportunities to form meaningful personal bonds. “I visited the home of a friend named Jassi, and we formed such a great bond that his grandmother still sends me messages telling me to visit whenever I want,” he said
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One of the standout moments came during a visit to teammate Arshdeep Singh’s home, where Raza was embraced like family. “I went to Arshdeep Singh's house and met his beautiful, small family, including his mom, dad, sister, and his dog,” he said. Recalling the warmth of the visit, he added, “While having food and tea at Arshdeep's house, his parents told me to keep talking because they loved listening to my Punjabi, but I told his uncle that I was actually enjoying listening to his Punjabi more.”
Raza also pointed to the unique character of the cities he stayed in during the tournament. He described Chandigarh as a calm and pleasant base during his time with the franchise. “I really enjoyed staying in Chandigarh while playing for Punjab Kings because it was a nice, quiet town,” he noted.
His travels across India left a strong impression, particularly his visit to Lucknow. “The best tea I had in India was in Lucknow, and I loved the way the people there spoke with such ‘Adab’ (respect) and had a beautiful Urdu accent,” he said.
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