Aryan Sharma, John James, and Yash Deshmukh, three young cricketers of Indian descent in the Australia Under-19 squad, are gearing up for a multi-format home series against India starting Sunday at Brisbane's Ian Healy Oval. The three ODIs and two four-day tests, running until October 10, offer a platform not just for competition but also for cultural reconnection with peers from their ancestral homeland. Amid the excitement, the trio shared poignant stories of migration, adaptation, and their unyielding ties to India, highlighting the global Indian diaspora's influence on cricket.

John James, a promising bowling all-rounder whose parents, Jomesh and Smitha, hail from Kerala's Wayanad, spoke candidly about the early struggles after relocating to Australia for better prospects. The family's move to the Central Coast, an hour from Sydney, complicated commutes to training and matches. "My parents made it easy by taking time off work to ensure I played the best cricket possible," James told PTI from Brisbane.

Initially overlooked by clubs, he found a breakthrough with Asquith Cricket Club midway through a season. A career highlight came during the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy's Sydney Test, where he served as a water boy, meeting idols like Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh. Eager for an off-season return to Kerala, James craves his grandmother's pork curry, a taste of home amid his Australian journey.

Aryan Sharma, a batting all-rounder from Chandigarh, echoed the familial sacrifices that fuelled his progress. His father, Raman, first visited Australia in 2000 for a wedding before settling in 2005. "Moving countries was challenging; it wasn't easy ingraining into Australian life, but relatives' support made a big difference," Aryan reflected. He credits his family's commitment—his dad shuttling him to sessions at the expense of time with siblings and Mum—for his growth.

Pathways through Cricket Victoria, including stints at Epping and Carlton clubs under coaches like Andrew Bennett and Evan Gulbis, have been pivotal. Aryan, a Virat Kohli admirer, dreams of emulating the star's passion for Australia. Recent trips to India for training in Chandigarh and Bengaluru deepened his appreciation for the subcontinent's cricket fervour, where he savours Punjabi staples like chicken and paneer dishes.

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Yash Deshmukh, an all-rounder whose family migrated from Maharashtra, navigated language barriers and cultural shifts upon arrival. "Competing with locally raised kids, who are bigger and stronger due to diets, was tough compared to traditional Indian food," he admitted. Sydney-based coach Mitch Yearsley proved instrumental, guiding Deshmukh from novice to key squad member.

Like his teammates, Deshmukh idolises Kohli and eyes a spot in Australia's lineup for the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The series against India, featuring prodigies like 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, promises fierce rivalry and shared heritage, as these players bridge their dual identities on the field.

This matchup revives memories of India's clean sweep over Australia U19 in last year's home series, setting the stage for redemption Down Under. For Sharma, James, and Deshmukh, it's more than a game—it's a testament to resilience, with their stories inspiring a new generation of diaspora talents in a sport where Indian roots run deep, from club grounds to international arenas.

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