India-born Snehith Reddy and Aryan Mann set to face India in U19 World Cup clash

Snehith Reddy and Aryan Mann. [Source - @icc/x]

For years, international cricket has seen players of Indian origin represent other nations, shaped by migration and opportunity. Australia and New Zealand, in particular, have benefited, with young talents choosing new homes while carrying deep-rooted cricketing memories from India.

The latest names to join that list are Snehith Reddy and Aryan Mann. Both born in India, both raised in New Zealand and are now part of New Zealand’s U19 side at the ongoing World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The team has played two matches in their campaign so far, but rain forced both to end without results. That leaves the final Group B clash against India as crucial, with Snehith Reddy and Aryan Mann set for a unique, high-stakes meeting against their country of birth on Saturday.

Snehith Reddy: From Vijayawada to World Cup mainstay

Born in Vijayawada, Snehith Reddy moved to New Zealand at a young age, settling in Hamilton. Club cricket alongside his father sparked his love for the game as he grew up idolising Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, dreaming of becoming an all-round cricketer like Glenn Phillips.

Reddy’s rise was swift from his younger days. Identified early by local coaches, he grew into a modern batter known for his technical brilliance with clean hitting and calm decision-making. Moreover, time spent at the CSK Academy recently also helped him adapt to spin, adding an important layer to his game.

Now batting at No. 4 with some tidy off spin with the ball, the right-hander is one of New Zealand’s key players in the U19 World Cup. He has scored 165 runs in six Youth ODIs, including a century on debut at the 2024 U19 World Cup aged 17, and was New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in that tournament.

Aryan Mann: Power, patience and early promise

Here’s a smoother, cleaner versionAryan Mann’s journey began in Patiala before his family moved to Auckland, where they settled in Manurewa. Now 19, he opens the innings and keeps wickets for New Zealand U19 and grew up watching Kane Williamson, modelling his game in a calm and balanced style.

Aryab Mann is a right-handed batter with strong, quick hands who enjoys taking on bowlers. He is powerful through the off side, pulls the ball exceptionally well, and plays sweeps and lofted drives with confidence, making him a dangerous presence in any batting line-up.

Mann has already tasted first-class cricket for Northern Districts and impressed with two half-centuries on debut against Canterbury. He made his U19 Youth ODI debut against USA in Bulawayo, gaining valuable exposure ahead of the biggest test of this campaign against India.

Wearing Kiwi colours, facing Indian roots

Saturday’s encounter is more than just a group match. For Reddy and Mann, it is a rare moment where personal history and professional ambition intersect, as they line up against the nation where their journeys first began.

Fully committed to New Zealand, yet deeply aware of their origins, both players enter the contest focused and ready. In kiwi colours, with World Cup dreams at stake, they represent how modern cricket stories stretch across borders and how talent finds its stage to flourish.