Australia Under-19 star credits watching Virat Kohli in 2018 as his cricketing inspiration

Published - 22 Sept 2025, 12:05 IST | Updated - 22 Sept 2025, 12:25 IST

Aryan Sharma, a young 17-year-old cricketer from Australia, was recently drafted into the Under 19 side for the ongoing series against the Indian side. The youngster has credited star cricketer Virat Kohli as his source of inspiration for picking up the sport and dreaming to play for his country, a few years down the line.

Aryan recently went down the memory lane, narrating how he went to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia during the 2018-19 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Aryan saw Virat bat for his brilliant 82 in the first innings, which guided India to an emphatic 137-run win against the Tim Paine-led side.

"In 2018, at just 11 years old, I went to the Boxing Day Test with a poster that said, 'Virat, you are my inspiration. Watch me play for Australia in 2025.' I don't know why I chose that year, but it was my dream. Now in 2025, through God's grace, the support of family and my coaches, and years of hard work, I've been selected for the Australian Under 19 team," Aryan was quoted as saying in a social media post by Cricket Australia's official handle.

For the unversed, Aryan Sharma made his Under-19 debut against India Under-19 in the first match of the ongoing series at the Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane. However, he failed to put up an impressive performance, scoring just 10 with the bat, while returning wicketless after giving 36 runs in his spell in the first innings. The Indian side eventually won the game by six wickets, courtesy of an unbeaten 152-run stand between Abhigyan Kundu and Vedant Trivedi.

Kundu-Trivedi's unbeaten stand propels IND U19 to 1-0 lead

Aryan is expected to make it to the Playing XI for the second 50-over clash as well, set to be played at the same venue. He would look to make an impressive performance this time round, and cement his spot in the side for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup.