Ayush Shukla is an international cricketer from Hong Kong. The right arm medium pace bowler is likely to start for Hong Kong against India in this evening’s T20I Asia Cup 2022 group stage game. If he does feature against India, this will be his first-ever appearance against any of the established powers in the sport. 

Also read: Asia Cup 2022: India stars seek form against minnows Hong Kong

Who is Ayush Shukla?

Ayush Shukla is a 19-year-old cricketer who was born on October 28, 2002. He is an international player for Hong Kong, and 2022 is his first calendar year as an international. 

Shukla is a right arm medium pace bowler and a tail-end batsman.  

He made his international debut for Hong Kong against Uganda on July 11, 2022, in a T20 World Cup qualifying game held at Bulawayo. He endured a loss on debut in a low-scoring game which Uganda won by 2 wickets while chasing down 87 runs. Shukla couldn’t alter the course of the game with his talents as he failed to take a wicket or score a run. 

Also read: When Hong Kong nearly beat India in Asia Cup 2018

Shukla played his second international soon after, on July 14, against Papua New Guinea. He earned his first international scalp in that game, a happier memory also because Hong Kong won by 2 wickets. Shukla finished with figures of 1/39 from his 4 overs. 

Shukla’s first big performance came in the 2022 Asia Cup qualifier game against the UAE. Shukla sliced through the Emirati top order, first trapping the dangerous-looking Muhammad Waseem leg-before-wicket after he had gotten off to a flier (18 runs from 8 balls). He then sent first-down batsman Vriitya Arvind back to the pavilion in a similar fashion, before outfoxing third-down Aryan Lakra. His impressive 3/30 set his country on course for the win and thus helped seal Hong Kong’s participation in the 2022 Asia Cup.

Also read: Asia Cup 2022: When and where to watch India vs Hong Kong, live streaming and other details

He has, at the time of writing, played 5 internationals for Hong Kong with 5 international wickets to his name at an average of 23.40.