Hyderabad’s 11-year-old Atiksh Gupta shines in junior cricket

Eleven-year-old opener Atiksh Gupta has impressed in Hyderabad's age-group cricket tournaments with a string of consistent scores, including two unbeaten centuries. The Edify World School student has also claimed 63 wickets and hopes to represent Telangana and India

Hyderabad: At 11, opener Atiksh Gupta appears to have caught the attention of die-hard cricket fans who have been following local age-group tournaments in recent months, thanks to his remarkable consistency.

Over the last two months, Atiksh, a trainee at the Arshad Ayub Cricket Academy in Masab Tank under the mentorship of coach Imran Khan, has scored 101 not out, 36 not out, 7, 56 not out, 101 not out, 60 not out, 41, 22, 16 not out, 17, 30, 30, 94 not out, 15, 43 not out, 54 not out and 57 in under-12 and under-14 tournaments.

For this sixth-grade student of Edify World School in Attapur, cricket has been a passion. Ever since he began playing in competitive matches last February, Atiksh, a huge fan of legendary cricketer MS Dhoni, has been determined to improve with every game.

“Atiksh has always been passionate about all forms of sports since childhood. He developed a passion for cricket by watching live matches at stadiums with his father from the age of four,” his proud parents said.

Atiksh also contributes with his off-spin bowling, having claimed 63 wickets in 130 matches while scoring 1,700 runs.

In his first-ever official match, Atiksh made an impact with the ball, taking five wickets for nine runs and winning the ‘Best Bowler’ award.

Atiksh aims to improve his skill set and overall fitness over the next three years as he develops into a promising young talent capable of representing the State. His ultimate goal is to represent the country in cricket and achieve success for his team and the nation.

“Yes, the focus is on physical fitness, mental resilience, teamwork and leadership skills, besides discipline and perseverance,” said Atiksh, who also expressed gratitude to his school management for its full support in allowing him to pursue his passion for cricket.

Atiksh is also a keen football follower. In 2021, he was selected as an FC Barcelona Junior Virtual Mascot from India and was among only 10 young fans worldwide chosen for the club’s home game against Getafe at Camp Nou in August that year. His video message was displayed on the stadium’s big screen and featured on the club’s social media platforms.

However, Atiksh is now more focused on making it big in cricket and appears ready to put in the hard work required to fulfil his ambitions, much to the delight of his parents and coaches.