Australian Universities Conclude Inspiring Cricket Tour of India

The Australian Universities cricket team (AUS) wrapped up their two-week tour of India, culminating in a spirited 50-over match against India’s representative teams (IND) from DY Patil University (Mumbai) and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) (Bhubaneswar). Despite the Indian Universities clinching a 6-1 series victory, the tour offered invaluable experiences on and off the field for the Australian players.

Unforgettable Hospitality and Competition

Australian Universities captain Kavvy Saini (Bachelor of Commerce, Macquarie University) praised the tour’s cultural and competitive aspects, “the warmth and generosity we experienced both on and off the field have been unforgettable. The fierce competition brought out the best in us and deepened our appreciation for the spirit of cricket that unites us all.”

Tour Highlights

The series began in Mumbai with three T20 matches at DY Patil University, where the IND team produced stellar performances, taking the first three matches thanks to standout play from rising stars Yashvardhan Singh and Yash Dabas.

The sole Australian victory came in the first thrilling T20 match in Bhubaneswar, where Jackson Kent’s (Bachelor of Commerce and Psychology, Macquarie University) batting and Saini’s bowling secured a five-run win.

The IND team went on to emphatically sweep the two remaining T20 matches and the solitary 50-over game emphasising the depth of talent at a university level in India.

Cultural immersion included visits to KIIT and the Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), exposing players to India’s vibrant heritage and humanitarian efforts.

Building Bonds Beyond Cricket

The tour strengthened ties between UniSport Australia and the Association of Indian Universities, setting the stage for a reciprocal event in Australia in 2025.”We have been very honoured to host the Australian Universities Cricket Team here in India, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that transcends our two countries,” said Dr. Baljit Singh Sekhon, Joint Secretary, Association of Indian Universities.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to Association of Indian Universities for hosting us over the last two weeks. We look forward to hosting a reverse tour on Australian soil in 2025. We will endeavour to show the India touring team the same level of hospitality they bestowed on us, and we will look to continue to strengthen the strong bond shared between our nations through a love of cricket.” said Mark Sinderberry, CEO of UniSport Australia.

Key Team Awards

Best Batter: Jackson Kent (Bachelor of Commerce and Psychology, Macquarie University)

Best Bowler: Kavvy Saini (Bachelor of Commerce, Macquarie University)

Best Fielder: Will Straker (Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, University of Technology Sydney)

Rising Star: Charlie Howard (Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Hons, University of Technology Sydney)

The Australian Universities team returns home enriched by elite competition, cultural exchange, and memories to last a lifetime.

About UniSport

UniSport Australia (UniSport) is the peak body for university sport in Australia, representing 42 member universities and a population of over one million students. UniSport’s mission is to become an integral partner of Australian universities by delivering outstanding student experiences through national intervarsity sports competitions. UniSport is also committed to advocating for the value of sport in enhancing the student experience.

For more information: www.unisport.com.au

Media Contact:

Damian Murphy

GM: Marketing & Communications

UniSport Australia

damian.murphy@unisport.com.au