Rohit Sharma's wicket set the ultimate target as UAE bowler starts preparations for Asia Cup

Aryan Saxena, a cricketer born in Delhi, has been making waves in UAE cricket with his steady rise through the ranks. Having moved to the UAE with his family in 2014, Aryan's passion for cricket has propelled him from playing with tennis balls in Delhi to competing with hardball in the UAE.

Recently, the young cricketer has expressed his admiration for the Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, who is considered one of the modern-era legends, especially in white-ball cricket. Rohit recently led India to ICC T20 World Cup 2024 glory in the West Indies.

UAE's Aryan Saxena sets sights on big stage, aims to face Rohit Sharma

Well, Aryan revealed that he was initially playing cricket for fun, which soon turned into a serious dream to become a professional cricketer. Upon relocating to the UAE due to his mother’s job transfer, he continued his cricketing journey by joining local academies.

Aryan's talent quickly caught the eye of the selectors, and he eventually made his debut for the UAE Under-19 team in 2021. His performance in the Under-19 World Cup qualifiers showcased his potential, despite his team’s loss in the final.

His impressive showing not only bolstered his confidence but also earned him a spot in the UAE men’s camp, and the support from his coaches has been instrumental in his growth.

Looking ahead, Aryan is set to represent the UAE side in the upcoming Under-19 Asia Cup 2024 scheduled to take place in India later this year. The young all-rounder’s goal is to excel in the upcoming tournament and advance to the senior UAE cricket team.

Aryan Saxena was quoted as saying by News 18 CricketNext: “I will be a part of the Under-19 team for the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to take place in India in December. I just want to perform well there and get promoted to the next level.”

Aryan Saxena follows a very strict diet, as he dreams of taking Rohit Sharma's wicket

Speaking about the UAE’s domestic cricket structure, Aryan said that they mostly play the shorter formats, such as T10 and T20. He added that the only interstate tournament, known as the Inter Emirates, is the main competition played in a 50-over format and includes four to five teams.

Speaking about his preparations for the upcoming competitions, the youngster noted: “I practice four to five days a week. I start with facing the sidearm for half an hour and then work on some things that are not working for me. Talking about fitness, I follow a very strict diet.

Apart from that, I do gym and run quite religiously. I do gym for one hour, and that too is weight training because I do my cardio ahead of my practice. I also focus on building my muscles because if you have that, you will have more stamina and stability. Eventually, this will help you in the field.”

The UAE cricketer said that he has a dream to dismiss India’s one of the iconic batters, Rohit Sharma, at least once in his career. However, Saxena’s dream seems to remain just a dream, as the Hitman already retired from T20I cricket, but if he managed to somehow find a way to break into the IPL, then he might get the opportunity to realize his dream. He signed off by saying, “Rohit Sharma’s wicket is my dream.”