FIFA World Cup T20: Lungi Ngidi press conference after South Africa vs Canada
Throughout the ages, “love at first sight” has been romanticized in poetry, cinema, and folklore. However, sports have a way of producing their own surprises. After all, Hundal’s first sporting love was not cricket. It was ice hockey.“I used to play ice hockey,” he told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive chat on the sidelines of the Canadian network.“At our school, it’s the biggest thing you grow up with. Our city has a hockey team called the Vancouver Canucks with a lot of fans. So I grew up playing hockey.”So when did cricket enter Ajayveer’s life?Cricket arrived later.The 2019 World Cup, as far as he remembers, was a turning point.“I used to watch a lot of cricket with my uncle. That (World Cup 2019) was really the highlight for me when I started watching cricket. And then in 2019-20 I started playing properly,” he said with a smile.
Ajayveer Hundal (Special Arrangement)
Born in Canada to Indian parents, Hundal decided during the pandemic that cricket was more than a hobby. And once he picked it up, he wanted to seriously pursue it.That decision has taken him across continents, back and forth between Canada and what he calls the “Mecca of Cricket”, India, particularly Delhi, where his family has roots.“He was in the army on his father’s side, so they moved to Delhi a while ago. Mama ji (maternal uncle) and all live in Greater Kailash. My bua ji (aunt) lives in Gagan Vihar,” he continued.“So yeah, it’s great to see this stadium that I’ve heard about for so long. And to be in it just as a player is a great feeling.He was at the stadium for the first time.“Inside the stadium, yes, for the first time,” he said. “People wouldn’t expect when I came here to train that I would get a chance to play here in the World Cup. But yes, definitely a great feeling.”Hundal has been to India three or four times just to train, admitting: “When you come to India, the biggest thing is you see the exposure, you see the level of talent that everybody has. It really pushes you. It makes you push yourself and adapt to the conditions here because everyone is so good here.”This environment shaped his transition from hockey teenager to bowling all-rounder.“With the way the game is evolving and the importance people place on all-rounders, I thought it was a skill I should pick up,” he added. “And yes, I’m doing well so far.An Indian mentor also played his part, with the 20-year-old finding former India Under-19 player Sarbjeet Singh as someone who helped him understand the game beyond technique.“Learning from him about the highs and lows of the game was really special. That really made me decide to get to this level and experience the highs that he did,” he revealed.As one of the youngest in this T20 World Cup, he is aware of the privilege and the pressure.“It’s a great experience for the associated players. Obviously India is the Mecca of cricket, it’s great to see the facilities and the competition here,” he further said. “We’re really enjoying it, adapting to the conditions.”From frozen rinks in Vancouver to dusty nets in Delhi, from watching the 2019 FIFA World Cup on TV to attending the 2026 edition, Hundal’s journey is a vivid reminder that cricket expands geographically and its romances are often unexpected.“It feels great,” he repeated softly, as if trying to convince himself it was real.