Harjas Singh, the 21-year-old batter who represented Australia in the 2024 U19 World Cup, is getting closer and closer to making his long-awaited professional debut. According to Fox Cricket, the left-handed batter has earned a contract with New South Wales for the 2026-27 season. It is worth mentioning that he first grabbed global headlines last summer after scoring a triple century during a one-day fixture for the Western Suburbs’ first-grade side.
He smashed 314 runs off just 141 balls against the Sydney Cricket Club in Ashfield, including 35 sixes. This was the highest individual score in Australian premier first-grade limited-over history, and he finished the season with 1109 runs across both formats for the Western Suburbs.
Harjas had also played a key role in Australia’s U19 World Cup win in 2024. In the final against India, he was the standout batter, scoring 55 runs off 64 balls, including three fours and as many sixes.
On Tuesday, Cricket New South Wales confirmed that Harjas has indeed earned a maiden contract with the state, joining the likes of Charlie Anderson and Jake Scott on the rookie list, while fellow young gun Riley Kingsell was elevated to a full contract.
“This is an exciting time for the Blues, with an opportunity for our stable playing group to build further momentum and compete strongly across both formats,” Greg Mail, Cricket NSW Chief Cricket Performance Officer, said in a statement.
“We are excited by the growth from within our system, highlighted by the elevation of Riley Kingsell to a full contract and Harjas Singh to the rookie list. We’re also pleased to welcome Bryce Jackson to our program. Bryce’s white-ball record is excellent, and he adds pace and depth to our bowling attack,” he added.
Brad Haddin coach
Earlier this year, New South Wales roped in former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin as the new head coach.
“NSW cricket has been an integral part of my life, and to rejoin the fold as Blues Head Coach is a proud moment for myself and my family,” Haddin said in a statement.
“Wearing the baggy blue was incredibly special and gave me some of the greatest memories of my career. I am looking forward to working with our current crop of talented players to bring back an aura to NSW cricket and to have a team with a formidable, distinctive style of play we can all be proud of,” he added.