Oxford University Cricket Club Blues embark on first ever Indian tour

Oxford University Cricket Club Blues have set off on their first ever tour of India.

Oxford University Cricket Club will play top Indian teams and hold coaching sessions with local schoolchildren on their 10 day tour from 20 to 30 March 2011.

The team will be captained by Rajiv Sharma, an Oxford DPhil student in economic geography who previously played for Auckland A in New Zealand, and stars England international Jamie Dalrymple, a former Blue.

Rajiv, who is himself an Indian national, said: ‘The tour provides a unique opportunity for the team to experience a different culture and develop our games in challenging conditions.

‘It will be a great chance for us to play with some of the top cricketers in India, and to give something back by holding coaching sessions with schoolchildren in India. Former Indian Oxford University cricketing legends have included the Nawab of Pataudi and Abbas Ali Baig. Also, Douglas Jardine and Colin Cowdery were both born in India, so a University tour of India is long overdue.

‘It’s an honour to captain Oxford University on a tour of India, a country which is so important to me. My parents have always stressed the importance of my heritage and it’s a huge honour and privilege to be able to captain the University's Blues team on their first ever tour in India. We are very grateful to those in India and the UK that have enabled the tour to happen.

'The team will play against the Bombay Gymkhana, Global Cricket School and Cricket Club of India in Mumbai on the 22nd, 23rd and 25th March respectively.

For more information and photos, contact Matt Pickles at the University of Oxford Press Office on 01865 270046 or matt.pickles@admin.ox.ac.uk . Rajiv Sharma is available for interviews, he can be contacted on 07535705428 or Rajiv.sharma@ouce.ox.ac.uk