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Who Is Harjas Singh? The Indian-Origin Australian Cricketer Who Outclassed India U19

image-lsiptgjrHarjas Singh scored 55 in the U-19 World Cup final [X.com]

Harjas Singh was one of the key performers for Australia U-19s during the marquee final of the ICC World Cup 2024 against India on Sunday (February 11). The elegant young left-hander played a critical knock of 55 and top-scored for the Aussies in their remarkable win over the unbeaten arch-rivals in Benoni. 

Having only collected 49 runs from his six previous innings of the competition, Harjas repaid the faith and backing shown by the Australian team management in the summit clash and helped skipper Hugh Weibgen and his men lift the prestigious crown. 

Harjas' Patka and a beard raised more interest about the Indian-origin Australian cricketer amongst the fans watching the U-19 final globally as cricket lovers wondered about the journey of the promising 19-year-old. 


Who is Harjas Singh? 

Harjas was born on January 31, 2005 in Sydney to his Indian parents, who had moved to Australia from Chandigarh at the turn of the 21st century. Starting off very young, the player's first taste of cricket was at the age of just eight when he joined as a substitute at the local Revesby Workers Cricket Club in New South Wales.

Having idolised Australia's veteran left-hander Usman Khawaja growing up, Harjas trained under the supervision of Neil D'Costa, who also happens to be the coach of leading Australian internationals Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne and previously, Michael Clarke and Phil Hughes. 

"I still have family back in Chandigarh and Amritsar. We have a house in Sector 44-D, but the last time I was there was 2015. Thereafter, cricket took over and I never got the opportunity. My uncle still lives there," Harjas told the Indian Express recently. 

In an interview last year with SBS Punjabi, Harjas revealed he has a sporting culture within his family, with his father Inderjit Singh being a state boxing champion and his mother Avinder Kaur a long jumper in Punjab. 

"My parents sacrificed all their free time to ensure I got proper training. They work in the transport industry. They spent hours and a lot of their savings to help shape my career," said the teen sensation. 

Notably, Harjas was a right-hand batter when he started off playing cricket but an interesting turn of events led him to become a left-hander since he recognised the neighbour's glass windows were on the leg-side. Hence, to avoid a "potential crisis", the youngster switched hands early and developed his game.