Aaryan Dixit - Never fear failure

Aaryan Dixit joined UTS North Sydney in 2025/26 and made quite the impression, scoring 626 runs and taking 10 wickets, and earned First Grade cap no. 713 in Round 10 against Sydney.

Ahead of his second season with the club, we sat down with Aaryan to find out about his impressions, inspirations and goals for the season ahead and the longer term.

When did your cricketing journey begin and where did you play your junior cricket?

I started my cricket journey in 2013, and funnily enough used to prefer soccer more! In 2015, when I was 10, something clicked at one of the World Cup games and I decided to make cricket what I do. My first club was the mighty West Ryde Rovers.

Who is a player you looked up to growing up, and why?

It’s changed fair bit over time, but someone I’ve stuck with since I started is Mitchell Starc. I used to dream of being a pace bowler, and tried copying his action for the best part of my pace bowling days. As times have gone by, I’ve really started admiring Virat Kohli, how he displays himself and his style of play.

You came to the Bears at the start of last season and had a pretty epic year, culminating in being named in our Men's Grade Team of the Year. What did you enjoy most about your first season with the club?

I’ve had a lovely first year with the club, one to cherish forever. I’ve built this camaraderie with all the boys around me, which was made easier as I knew some of the lads prior to joining the club. Definitely a season which offered tons of opportunities and learnings. Glad to say the 2s boys have hooked me onto some serious house tunes too!

How did it feel to score 118* in Second Grade against your old club, Fairfield-Liverpool? 

I’d say it all kind of just happened, to be honest. I was running on barely any sleep, and it was probably the hottest day of cricket we’d played all season. I remember being half asleep before going out to bat, and then suddenly I was out there in the middle. Once I got going, I really enjoyed the battle and just wanted to keep batting for as long as I could. Then at some point, a switch just clicked and everything seemed to find the middle in the second half of my innings. To finish undefeated on 118 made it even more special, especially being against my old club.

Aaryan's ton was commemorated at our Presentation Night in April

You made your First Grade debut the week after your ton, and played three more Belvidere Cup matches during the season. Did you always aspire to play at the top grade, and what did you learn from those experiences?

It’s always been a dream to play the highest level of cricket, and getting into First Grade was a stepping stone towards my ambitions. Having played those games, I’ve learnt how continuous the game is, and you should always expect the unexpected.

You’re primarily known for being a batter, but also bowl handy off-spin. Do you enjoy having that additional string to your bow, and how much of your training time do you dedicate to bowling?

I’ve always loved being involved, whether it’s with bat or ball. Once I started bowling off-spin, I knew I didn’t want to just be an option, I want to be someone the team could rely on. It’s taken patience, but things have really started to click recently. I try to work on my fundamentals as often as possible and usually get 20–30 minutes of competitive bowling against batters in the nets.

Aaryan prepares to bowl

You combine playing for the Bears with studies at UTS and are a member of the UTS Elite Athlete Program. What are you studying, how has it been balancing cricket and uni, and what are your career plans when you leave uni?

I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Information Technology at UTS. Balancing uni and cricket has been pretty smooth so far, especially with the support of the Elite Athlete Program. As for what comes after uni, that’s still a bit of a mystery to me! I don’t have a set career path in mind just yet, so for now I’m keeping my options open and seeing where things take me.

What are your aspirations for the season ahead - both individually and for the club?

Having lost a few boys, I think it’d be easy for people to see us as one of the weaker sides this season. I’d love for us to turn a few heads, prove otherwise and finish as one of the strongest clubs in the competition, ideally with all three cups! Individually, breaking into the NSW 2nd XI side is the next step I’m aiming for.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

Cricket-wise, it’s that you always have more time than you think. Mentally, it’s learning to build a healthy relationship with your thoughts, to observe them rather than always react to them.

What would you tell a 12-year-old Aaryan Dixit?

Knowing me, I’ve obviously got to throw a couple of quotes in there. “Never fear failure. The arrow that travels the greatest distance, is pulled back the furthest. So, if you’re ever scared of a situation, do it scared.”

Where do you see yourself in 5 years' time?

I’d love to be playing for Australia!