Midfielder Ayush Adhikari speaks about his time at HFC, the bond brewing in the squad and more…
Hyderabad: The young guns at Hyderabad FC are slowly getting into the groove. A new-look team with plenty of exciting names, the Nawabs are all set to give their best this season and one player they will need at the top of his game is midfielder Ayush Adhikari.
The Delhi-born medio is one of the very few players in the league that has the ability to run the game in the middle of the park. He is an experienced campaigner and will be a senior figure in the squad at Hyderabad in the new season.
Now with the Yellow and Black for a couple of months, Ayush already likes the Hyderabad way.
“Life in Hyderabad has been very good so far. The city has a mix of culture, and history and also has a good vibe in general too,” he said, speaking about his time in Hyderabad.
✨️ Midfield magic, loading…
Youngsters Ayush Adhikari and Sourav K join the Yellow and Black on long-term deals 💪#TheNawabs 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/M40gmUNT33
— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) September 18, 2024
A player who Hyderabad have had their eyes on even last summer, Ayush is a silky midfielder, who is easy on the eye. He has hit the ground running and was one of the best players in the tough outings for the team against Bengaluru FC and Punjab FC at the start of the season.
And he believes that the coaching and technical setup at HFC will help, not just him, but the list of young guns at the club this season.
“We have an all-Indian technical and support staff this season. This helps because they understand the Indian players better. The youngsters in the squad who just started their journey also have a good bond with both coach Thangboi and coach Shameel and that makes us a really exciting unit”
– Ayush Adhikari
The 24-year-old came into a young squad that made waves in the league last season. He brings strength and experience in the middle of the park but more importantly, he also has a role to play off the field.
“We have a very young squad here at Hyderabad,” said Ayush.
“But we have a good mix of experienced players like Lenny (Rodrigues) bhai and Arshdeep (Singh) bhai. We have a new foreign player who joined us as well so we are a strong squad now in the ISL,” he added.
Settling into a new-look midfield!
Ayush Adhikari with a gritty display on his Yellow and Black debut 💪#BFCHFC #TheNawabs 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/tLZ47uzocl
— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) September 21, 2024
Having been around in the Indian football circuit for almost a decade now, Ayush is closing in on 50 league appearances already and is also a role model for the up-and-coming Yellow and Black.
However, he knows the importance of keeping his head down and making the most of his time at the club.
“I am at a good place in my career now. I know my role at the club and am close to a big milestone in the ISL, but I know that I have a lot to improve on and I will keep working hard in every training session.”
– Ayush Adhikari
The midfielder missed the home game against Chennaiyin FC with a niggle but believes he has settled in well with the Yellow and Black.
A senior figure now in the squad, Ayush Adhikari also realizes that he has more responsibility off the field as well as the Nawabs look to build a new era with this young squad.
“It’s my 5th season in the ISL. I now have a clear idea of what my responsibility is, on and off the field,” said Ayush.
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“I know i am not a youngster anymore and there are younger players in the squad who are just starting their journey. We learn from each other and hope to grow stronger together,” he added.
The midfielder is back in action as Hyderabad take on Jamshedpur this Monday. Hyderabad travel to Kolkata later in the week and Ayush believes that these two games will help the squad grow stronger.
“Two away games in such a short time is always a challenge. But we are working hard on fixing our mistakes and hope to face these challenges together as a unit, visiting two tough cities in a week”
– Ayush Adhikari
A popular figure among the HFC faithful already, Ayush will have lots of pressure to deliver but he is confident that the squad at Hyderabad will do their bit to bring successful days back to the club.
“I have seen that the city of Hyderabad loves football. The fan culture is also growing but the last two years were really tough and kudos to everyone who stuck with the club. But with a new management and a new, young squad, we will give our all to get back the glory days,” Ayush added.
At just 24, Ayush Adhikari is one of the most exciting midfielders on show in the Indian top flight and he is only getting started in Yellow and Black.
Ayush Adhikari 
