Small Club, Big Dreams
It Takes a Community to Raise a Cricketer

From Grassroots to County Cricket: How Capital Kids Cricket, Tower Hamlets CC and Family Support Helped Shape Aayush Baluja's Journey

CKC COMMUNITY IMPACT STORY | OCTOBER 2026

From Tower Hamlets Cricket Club to becoming Northamptonshire's Academy Player of the Season 2026, Aayush Baluja's journey shows how grassroots cricket, parental dedication and community support can help young people pursue their dreams.

Behind every aspiring young cricketer is often a network of people who make their journey possible, parents who sacrifice their time, coaches who nurture talent, volunteers who keep clubs running and community organisations that open doors to new opportunities.

For Aayush Baluja, a pupil of Shenfield High School, that network has included Capital Kids Cricket (CKC), Tower Hamlets Cricket Club (THCC) and his dedicated family.

Now in his second year at the Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Academy, Aayush has already achieved significant milestones as he pursues his ambition of becoming a professional cricketer.

His journey highlights an important message: talent can emerge from any community, but it takes opportunities, encouragement and sustained support to help young people fulfil their potential.

Where the Journey Began: Tower Hamlets Cricket Club

Tower Hamlets Cricket Club, supported through CKC's community cricket work, has provided opportunities for children and young people from diverse backgrounds to discover, enjoy and progress in cricket.

For Aayush, the club played an important role in his early development, offering coaching, competitive matches and opportunities to challenge himself.

He also benefited from CKC's wider programmes, including residential cricket camps with the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation and opportunities to play at the iconic Wormsley Cricket Ground.

Experiencing cricket in these inspiring environments helped build his confidence, independence and motivation to continue improving.

A significant turning point came when Aayush was just over 13 years old. Recognising his potential, Tower Hamlets CC provided opportunities for him to play alongside adult cricketers, with parental consent.

Competing against older and more experienced players helped strengthen his confidence, resilience and match awareness.

He subsequently continued his club cricket journey with Harold Wood Cricket Club and, more recently, Chingford Cricket Club.

Alongside these experiences, Aayush progressed through the Essex county cricket pathway from Under-9 level, developing the skills and experience that would support his move into Northamptonshire's Academy.

From Grassroots Cricket to County Recognition

Aayush's dedication and development have been reflected in a series of impressive achievements:

• Progressing through the county cricket pathway from Under-9 level, including representing London & East at the ECB Under-15 Bunbury Festival.

• Scoring a century for Northamptonshire Second XI against Derbyshire in August 2026.

• Representing MCC State Schools against MCC at Lord's on 4 September 2026, with a reported unbeaten innings of 148 runs.

• Joining the Northamptonshire Academy squad in 2025.

• Winning Northamptonshire Academy Player of the Season 2026, alongside a reported Pathway Player of the Year award.

For a young player attending a state school and developing through grassroots cricket, these achievements provide encouragement to other aspiring cricketers and their families.

While Aayush's ambition of playing professional cricket remains a work in progress, his achievements demonstrate what determination, consistent development and access to opportunities can make possible.

Behind the Journey: The Power of Parents

An equally important part of Aayush's story is the commitment of his father, Ashish Baluja, and the wider family.

Since 2016, Ashish has volunteered with CKC and Tower Hamlets CC, supporting junior cricket and helping create opportunities for other young players alongside his own son's development.

His involvement demonstrates how parents can contribute far beyond supporting their children from the boundary.

By helping organise matches, supporting coaches, assisting with club activities and encouraging young players, parents become an essential part of the grassroots cricket community.

Ashish's involvement also led to a wider initiative.

With encouragement from CKC CEO Shahidul Alam Ratan, Ashish developed CricFitSport (CFS), a parent-led cricket initiative offering additional competitive matches, coaching and player-development opportunities.

CFS has since developed into a wider cricket platform, with activity and contacts spanning Essex, Greater London, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, as well as international initiatives.

What began with parents seeking additional opportunities for young cricketers has grown into a platform supporting the development of other aspiring players.

It is a powerful example of how parental involvement can benefit not only one child but an entire community of young cricketers.

CKC: Creating Opportunities Beyond the Boundary

Aayush's journey reflects CKC's wider mission of using cricket to inspire young people, develop life skills and create pathways to brighter futures.

Through school programmes, community clubs, holiday camps, residential trips, competitions, mentoring and partnerships, CKC works to make cricket accessible to children and young people from different backgrounds and abilities.

Not every participant will become a county or professional cricketer and success should not be measured by sporting achievement alone.

For many young people, cricket provides friendship, belonging, confidence, leadership skills and improved physical and emotional wellbeing.

For others, like Aayush, it can also become a stepping stone towards higher levels of competitive sport.

His progression demonstrates the vital role that community clubs, supported by organisations such as CKC, can play within the wider cricket development pathway. Beyond developing young players, CKC has also established a strong track record in coach education, mentoring, professional development and employability, helping young people and volunteers gain qualifications, practical experience and opportunities to build careers in sport. This reflects CKC's wider commitment to developing not only cricketers, but also future coaches, leaders and positive role models within their communities.

CKC CEO: A Journey That Should Inspire Other Families

Reflecting on Aayush's achievements, Shahidul Alam Ratan, Chief Executive Officer of Capital Kids Cricket, said:

"I am absolutely delighted to see Aayush's progression from a young Under-9 cricketer to an accomplished county academy player. Watching young people grow, develop and achieve their ambitions is one of the greatest rewards of our work at CKC.

"A great deal of credit must go to his father, Ashish Baluja, and the entire family for their exceptional commitment, encouragement and support over the years.

"Ashish has not only supported his own son's cricketing journey but has also dedicated his time as a volunteer with CKC and Tower Hamlets Cricket Club, helping create opportunities for many other young people.

"I am particularly pleased that I was able to encourage Ashish to develop CricFitSport, which has grown into a parent-led initiative providing additional competitive cricket and development opportunities.

"Aayush's journey from state-school and grassroots cricket to county academy recognition demonstrates what can happen when parents, community clubs, coaches and organisations like CKC work together.

"Talent needs opportunities, but it also needs time, patience, encouragement and people who believe in young people.

"My sincere thanks go to all the coaches, club players, volunteers, CKC staff and partner organisations who have contributed to Aayush's development.

"I hope his story inspires more parents to become involved in their children's sporting lives and encourages young people from every community to believe in their potential."

A Father's Perspective: CKC's Lasting Impact

For Ashish Baluja, CKC's contribution has extended beyond developing Aayush's cricketing ability.

Reflecting on the journey, Ashish Baluja, Aayush's father, said:

"At a very young age, Aayush needed the right support and guidance to nurture his passion for cricket. CKC wholeheartedly embraced his dream, providing him with the encouragement, coaching and support he needed to develop not only as a cricketer but also as a confident young man who understands the importance of values, discipline, hard work and what it takes to succeed in life.

"I am deeply grateful to Shahidul Alam Ratan and the entire CKC team for believing in Aayush, nurturing his talent and playing such an important role in his journey. Their contribution has helped shape the person and cricketer he is today, and for that, I will always be thankful."

A Message to Parents: Your Time Can Help Shape a Child's Future

Aayush's story carries a message for parents and families across London and beyond.

You do not need to be a professional coach or a former cricketer to make a difference in your child's sporting journey.

Your time, encouragement, patience and involvement can be just as important as the training and opportunities a young player receives.

Community clubs rely on parents and volunteers. When families become actively involved, they help create stronger clubs and more opportunities for other children.

For CKC and Tower Hamlets CC, Aayush's journey demonstrates why grassroots investment, community partnerships and parental engagement must remain at the heart of youth development.

It also reinforces the importance of ensuring that children from state schools and diverse communities can access opportunities to progress, regardless of their background.

Small clubs can create big opportunities. Dedicated parents can inspire entire communities. Together, we can help more young people realise their potential.

Aayush's journey continues but his story is already an inspiration to others.

Some CKC supported clubs:

CAPITAL KIDS CRICKET

INSPIRE • CHALLENGE • CHANGE

Cricket is more than a game. It's a tool for building better lives and brighter futures.