New Delhi: Cricket is Indias most beloved sport, has seen numerous stories of struggle and triumph. However, the journey of Mohammed Amaan, the newly appointed captain of Indias Under-19 cricket team, stands out as one of the most poignant. Mohammed Amaan hails from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and at just 18 years old, he has already made a big impact in the cricketing world. A talented batsman and a promising fast bowler, Amaan was a crucial part of Indias Under-19 squad in the 2023 Asia Cup. But his journey to the top was far from easy. Orphaned at the age of 16, Amaan was left to fend for himself and his three younger siblings after the tragic deaths of both his parents. His mother, Sayba, passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and two years later, his father, Mehtab, a truck driver, also died, leaving the young cricketer to shoulder the responsibilities of his family.Struggle behind successIn an interview with the Indian Express, Aman shared the emotional toll of losing his parents and the sudden responsibility of becoming the head of his family. The day I lost my father, I felt like I grew up in an instant. I had to take care of my younger sister and two brothers. After that incident, I seriously considered giving up cricket to find work in Saharanpur, Amaan revealed. Despite his efforts, finding a job proved difficult, and it was the support of kind-hearted individuals that allowed him to continue pursuing his passion for cricket.Nights of hunger and hopeAmaans journey faced extreme hardship. There were days when he went to bed hungry, an experience that profoundly shaped his outlook on life. There is nothing worse than hunger. I never waste food now because I know how hard it is to come by. During the UPCA age group trials in Kanpur, I traveled in the general compartment of the train, often sitting near the toilet. Now, when I fly and stay in good hotels, I just thank God, he said, reflecting on his humble beginnings.Promising cricketing careerDespite the odds, Amaans dedication to cricket never wavered. He began his journey in the Under-14 category during the 2016-17 season and continued to impress in subsequent years. Last season, he scored 363 runs in eight innings for the UP Under-19 team in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, including four half-centuries. His stellar performance in the Under-19 Challenger Series, where he was the second-highest run-scorer with 294 runs at an average of 98, earned him recognition as a rising star. In 2023, he was named captain of the Uttar Pradesh Under-19 team, a role that has now expanded to leading the national squad.Indias ODI Under-19 squad against AustraliaRudra Patel, Sahil Parikh, Kartikey KP, Mohammad Amaan (C), Kiran Chormale, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Harvansh Singh Pangalia (WK), Samit Dravid, Yudhishth Guha, Samarth N, Nikhil Kumar, Chetan Sharma, Hardik Raj, Rohit Raj Awat, Mohammad Enan.Indias Under-19 Test squad against Australia:Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nitya Pandya, Vihan Malhotra (VC), Soham Patwardhan (C), Kartikey KP, Samit Dravid, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Harvansh Singh Pangalia (WK), Chetan Sharma, Samarth N, Aditya Rawat, Nikhil Kumar, Anmoljit Singh, Aditya Singh, Mohammad Enan.
