India-Born Aryan Saxena's Ascent In UAE U-19 Cricket Team

Aryan Saxena, an 18-year-old cricketer from Gurugram, India, is making waves in the junior cricket circuit in the UAE. Now living in Sharjah with his parents, Aryan has already debuted for the UAE U-19 team and aims to achieve greater heights in his cricketing career.

His journey began with casual games with friends in his housing society. His parents, Roopali and Rohit Saxena, moved to the UAE due to his mother's job transfer, which became a turning point for Aryan's cricketing aspirations.

Upon arriving in the UAE, Aryan's approach to cricket became more serious. "I started taking my cricket seriously after arriving in the UAE, and it was here that I was formally introduced to the hard ball," he said. From 2014 to 2020, he trained at Desert Cubs Cricket Academy in Sharjah, honing his skills.

Aryan's move to Sharjah Cricket Academy in 2021 marked a significant milestone. "After joining Sharjah Cricket Academy, I started getting noticed by the coaches as I was putting up good performances regularly. I was named the captain of the Sharjah Inter-State team, where I won accolades in the tournament," he shared.

Aryan's hard work paid off when he played an unofficial Test against England U-19 and scored a century. "In 2021, I made my UAE U-19 debut during the U-19 World Cup qualifiers at the age of 16," he added.

Recently, Aryan captained the Emirates Blues Team in Dubai D50 and D10 tournaments and led the Sharjah U19 team in the Inter Emirates Series. He was awarded Player of the Series and was also the second-leading run-scorer in the ECB Academy League 2023-2024.

Impressive Statistics

Over four years, Aryan has shown remarkable consistency both with bat and ball at junior levels. In 223 matches, he has scored 8,289 runs with an average of 47.91. His highest score is 212, including 17 centuries and 43 half-centuries.

His bowling stats are equally impressive; he has taken 125 wickets at an average of 24.40 and an economy rate of 5.50. His best bowling figures are 6/11. Aryan has earned numerous accolades: 43 Man of the Match awards, three Player of the Finals titles, four Player of the Tournament honours, and four Best Batsman of the Tournament accolades.

Future Aspirations

Aryan is enthusiastic about upcoming opportunities. "In December, we have the U-19 Asia Cup, and I am really looking forward to that. Hopefully, I'll be picked up in the squad," he remarked. He also mentioned an A-team tour of Namibia scheduled for September.

Regarding young cricketers' mentality in UAE's U-19 setup, Aryan said they focus on giving their best against every team rather than thinking about rivalries. "In last year's U-19 Asia Cup, we defeated two Test-playing nations (Pakistan and Sri Lanka), and we want to do much better in the next edition."

Personal Preferences

Aryan admires Steve Smith and Joe Root for their batting styles and patience on-field. He initially wanted to study sports management but chose International Business Management due to limited options nearby. This choice allows him more time for cricket.

Aryan is also eyeing a spot in ILT20, UAE's domestic T20 league. "I am eligible for ILT20 but getting picked up by franchises is not in our hands," he mentioned. He focuses on performing well and leaves selection decisions to higher powers.

Despite his success abroad, Aryan misses his extended family in Delhi and local delicacies like momos. His journey from a young enthusiast in India to a rising star in UAE cricket serves as inspiration for many aspiring cricketers worldwide.

Aryan aims to represent UAE at higher levels and contribute significantly to cricket's growth in Gulf nations as he continues developing his game.