Over the years, Hong Kong cricket has been shaped by players of Indian and Pakistani heritage, and among them is right-arm seamer Ayush Shukla, who traces his roots back to India. Born in Hong Kong, Shukla spent much of his early life balancing academics with sport. His father had moved to the city in 1996 for work and went on to establish his own business there.

At the age of 15, Shukla shifted to the United Kingdom for further studies, and it was during this period that cricket began to take on greater significance in his life. His rise through the ranks was steady. Starting out with Hong Kong’s Under-19 side, he impressed with his control and temperament, which soon paved the way to the senior team. By the time the Asia Cup came around in 2022, Shukla had already made his international debut and was being looked at as one of Hong Kong’s most promising quicks.

Away from the field, he remained committed to education, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting at Auckland. Even during the build-up to the 2022 Asia Cup, he managed to keep pace with his coursework by attending online classes. Since breaking into the senior setup, Shukla has grown into a dependable option in Hong Kong’s bowling unit.

In 2024 at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A, Ayush bowled four maiden overs in a T20I against Mongolia, becoming only the third bowler in history to achieve this feat. Although Hong Kong did not qualify for the World Cup, Shukla's strong performances during the ACC Premier Cup that year helped the team secure a spot in the 2025 Asia Cup.