Samir Sardana (Engineering 2020) is a double Blue, after representing Cambridge University at both hockey and cricket in Varsity matches in 2023.

The hockey half-back was a member of the winning team against Oxford at Southgate Hockey Club in March and part of the winning team against Oxford in the T20 Varsity at Lord's Cricket Ground in May. 

Last month, Samir played in the 50-over Varsity contest with Oxford at Arundel which was sadly abandoned halfway due to rain. The off-spinning all-rounder has also been selected to play in the four-day Varsity match at Fenner’s, which is scheduled to begin on July 4. To follow the match online, visit: https://cambridgeuniversity.play-cricket.com/home

Cricket has also provided a memorable conclusion to his third year at Gonville & Caius College, as Caius won the men’s Cuppers competition for the first time in 10 years.

Samir says his sporting participation, and the structure of training sessions and matches, complements his studies.

“It’s been good to keep busy. If anything it means I’m more on top of my work, because I know when I’m not playing hockey or cricket I really ought to be working,” he says.

“Some terms last year I’d have training or matches almost every single day; maybe one day I’d have rest. I’d call Sunday my degree day and spend the whole day in the library.”

Samir played both sports at school and knew he wanted to continue to do so at university after meeting his offer to study at Caius.

He followed the hockey and cricket clubs on social media, and on seeing the hockey club’s pre-season schedule, he looked to come to Caius early. The College supported his request to move into accommodation early, and it helped Samir to settle in and make friends through a shared enjoyment of sport.

“It was nice to settle into Cambridge early, meet people through hockey and get to know the city,” he says.

“It meant I could seamlessly transition into term.”

Harvey Court, Caius’ first-year accommodation on West Road, is a short cycle ride from the University sports centre, where hockey is based. Samir’s second-year accommodation on Mortimer Road was within a boundary fielder’s throw of Fenner’s.

In third year he has been in St Michael’s Court, in the city centre, equidistant between the two venues.

Sport, for both the College and the University, has helped to form friendships and created memories on and off the field. One memory which will be treasured was Caius’ first Cuppers win since 2013.

“We’ve been unlucky in previous years and this year it was great to go one step further,” Samir adds.

“It brings together lots of the Caius community. Unlike other teams where there are ‘fill-in’ players, what’s special about our team is all 11 of us are good cricketers.

“All of our performances were team performances, which is great.”