India-Born Cricketer Aryan Saxena Chases Greatness with UAE U-19 Team

India-Born Cricketer Aryan Saxena Pursues Greatness with UAE U-19 Team

Aryan Saxena, an India-born cricketer, is making a significant impact at the junior level in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with his impressive game. The 18-year-old cricketer from Gurugram has already made his debut for the UAE U-19 side and aims to achieve great success in the coming days with his exceptional skills.

A Journey of Dedication and Hard Work

Now residing in Sharjah with his parents, Aryan’s journey from playing with friends in his housing society to representing the UAE U-19 team is truly inspirational. His parents, Roopali Saxena and Rohit Saxena, relocated to the UAE due to his mother’s job transfer, which led to Aryan’s significant cricketing breakthrough.

In an interview with myKhel, Aryan shared, “I used to play with my friends in the housing society I lived in. Watching my interest in the game, my parents got me admitted to an academy in Delhi, but there I was mainly playing with the tennis ball. I played well, so my friends and neighbors encouraged my parents to get me involved in a proper academy.”

A Turning Point in the UAE

Aryan’s cricketing journey took a serious turn after arriving in the UAE. “I started taking my cricket seriously after arriving in the UAE, and it was here that I was formally introduced to the hard ball. Between 2014-2020, I trained at Desert Cubs Cricket Academy, Sharjah, and honed my cricketing skills,” Aryan, who also bowls right-arm off-spin, said.

Aryan’s move to Sharjah Cricket Academy in 2021 marked a significant milestone in his career. “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.

Rising Through the Ranks

Aryan’s hard work paid off when he played in an unofficial Test against the England U-19 team 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.

In recent times, Aryan has continued to shine. He captained the Emirates Blues Team in the Dubai D50 and D10 tournaments and led the Sharjah U19 team in the Inter Emirates Series, where he was awarded Player of the Series. Aryan was also the second-leading run-scorer in the ECB Academy League 2023-2024.

Impressive Statistics and Accolades

Over the last four years, Aryan Saxena has consistently demonstrated his prowess both with the bat and ball in the domestic circuit at the junior level. In 223 matches, he has amassed 8,289 runs with an impressive average of 47.91. Aryan has hit 17 centuries and 43 half-centuries, with his highest score being 212.

His bowling stats are equally notable, having taken 125 wickets at an average of 24.40 and an economy rate of 5.50, with his best bowling figures being 6/11. Aryan’s performances have earned him 43 Man of the Match awards, 3 Player of the Finals titles, 4 Player of the Tournament honors, and 4 Best Batsman of the Tournament accolades.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Aryan is enthusiastic about his prospects. “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. In September, we have an A-team tour of Namibia, and a camp is going on for that,” Aryan remarked.

Regarding the mentality of young cricketers in the UAE U-19 setup, Aryan shared, “We don’t think about rivalries. We just want to give our best against every team. 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.”

Influences and Aspirations

Aryan’s favorite cricketers are Steve Smith and Joe Root. “I like their batting style and the patience they show in the middle,” he said.

Asked why he chose to pursue International Business Management, Aryan explained, “I wanted to do my graduation in sports management, but there weren’t any good universities around here to pursue that. So I took International Business Management as it is easy for me, and I will be able to give more time to my cricket.”

Aryan is also eyeing a spot in the ILT20, the UAE’s domestic T20 league. “I am eligible for the ILT20, but getting picked up by the franchises is not in our hands. All we can do is perform well in whatever games we get to play and leave the rest to God’s hands. Our coaches are also advising us to focus on our game,” he mentioned.

A Connection to Home

Despite his success, Aryan misses his extended family in Delhi and the famous momos sold there, showing his deep-rooted connection to his homeland. His journey from a young cricket enthusiast in India to a rising star in UAE cricket can be an inspiration to thousands of youngsters who wish to achieve something even in foreign lands.

As he continues to develop his game, Aryan’s aspirations are clear: to represent the UAE at the highest level and contribute to the growth of cricket in the Gulf nation.