R66T Academy graduate Aarav Alok Patel has made an outstanding impact in the New Jersey Division U15A Competition, scoring 366 runs in a recent match for the Knight Riders Destroyers.
Aarav’s development pathway began in April 2025 when he attended the inaugural R66T Dubai Cup as part of the North Jersey team travelling from the United States. The tournament provided exposure to high-performance environments, including structured net sessions at the Dubai Sevens Stadium, and gave players the opportunity to compete and connect with athletes from around the world.
His performance during the tournament - where he was named MVP in the U15 Boys Final - led coaches and specialists to recommend progression into the High Performance Program, designed to further challenge and develop emerging talent.
In October 2025, Aarav travelled from the USA to Adelaide, Australia, to join the intensive program. The environment placed strong emphasis on discipline, physical preparation, and consistency - areas he had not previously experienced at the same intensity.
Reflecting on his experience, Aarav said:
“I’ve really enjoyed the program. I’ve completed both seasons and I feel I’ve grown a lot as a cricketer - not just physically, but mentally as well. The fitness and training, four to five times a week, really helped my development.
“I’ve also really enjoyed meeting players from all over the world. Living together for such a long period helped us build strong friendships that I think will last a long time. And having coaches like Shaun was a dream.”
Following his graduation in March 2026, Aarav applied his learnings directly into competitive cricket, delivering a standout innings of 366 runs in the USA U15A competition.
High Performance Program Director and Head Coach Shaun Seigert commented:
“Aarav Patel, who trained in the R66T Academy High Performance Program in Adelaide last season, shows huge potential. His recent performance - scoring 366 - is outstanding. During the program he demonstrated strong development and competed well against experienced opposition, including former South Australia first-class bowler Nick Benton, holding his own at A1 level as a 15-year-old.”
Alongside Aarav’s remarkable achievement, another graduate from the same High Performance Program cohort also reached an important milestone during the match. Advait Patel produced an impressive innings of 94 runs, further highlighting the quality of talent emerging from the program. His performance stands as another excellent example of a young cricketer applying the skills and experience gained during their time in Australia to achieve success on the field.
The High Performance Program continues to support young cricketers aiming to progress through elite development pathways in Australia. Joe Root also previously trained under Shaun Seigert during the 2010/11 period, highlighting the long-standing pedigree of the program.
To learn more about the program or register for the next intake, click here.