You only had to glance into the stands at the Cricket World Cup to realise that football - despite the success of the Indian Super League - still has a long way to go before capturing the hearts of Indian sports fans.

In Australia, where immigration from India has tripled in a decade, (putting it fourth in the list of most numerous overseas-born residents), that could present a potential problem, for a game that prides itself on its popularity among multicultural communities.
What Indian football really needs is some heroes of its own - both at home, and here.
The good news for Australia? Football’s massive grassroots participation numbers are bringing players of Indian heritage through the system. The bad news for India? Most of them are wearing green and gold.

Shayne D'Cunha of the Wanderers in action. Source: Getty Images

Rhys Williams (Indian mother) is a fully-fledged international, while brother Ryan is an Olyroo. Perth Glory’s Danny De Silva (also an under-23 international), has an Indian background too.
But could young Western Sydney Wanderers defender, Shayne D’Cunha, become the first ever Indian-born Socceroo?

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Already, the Mumbai-native has represented his adopted country at junior level, having been picked for Paul Okon’s Young Socceroos squad. Last weekend, he made the Wanderers senior squad for the first time against Melbourne City, although he didn’t feature.
D’Cunha, one of the most well-spoken 19 year-old footballers you could ever have the pleasure of interviewing, arrived down under in 2000 - and credits his parents with his success.
“My whole family moved to Sydney when I was aged just 4. One of the main reasons was to give my sister and I a better chance in life, because of the openness that Sydney offers compared to Mumbai, which is more restricted in terms of lifestyle. It’s only as the years have passed I’ve realised how big a sacrifice they made. Culturally it was a big shock for them, after living for over 30 years in India,” says D’Cunha.

Wanderers’ Shayne D'Cunha involved in a school program in Blacktown. Source: Supplied

His city of birth is widely regarded as being the capital of Indian cricket. Some of Mumbai’s sons have gone on to become household names with bat and ball - Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, to name but a few.
But in the D’Cunha household (the surname traces its lineage back to the Portuguese colonial rule of Mumbai) football was always number one.
“My uncle played football for the state (Maharashtra) - they did watch cricket, but football was my primary sport in my family, so that is why I chose it. I started playing in local football aged 5 or 6, and I loved it. I did play some cricket, but I wasn’t very good at it, and I didn’t enjoy it,” says D’Cunha.
Cricket’s loss could be football’s gain. A ball-playing central defender or right-back, D’Cunha’s ability to read the game means he fits in well with the modern-day trend of playing out from the back.

Daniel De Silva is another Aussie footballer with an Indian background. Source: Getty Images

The one question mark against him is his size - or lack of it.
“It’s a question a lot of people ask, but I don’t let it bother me. My ability should outweigh the fact I’m not the biggest. I do work to try and build up my strength and speed, the physical stuff. But so long as I move well, and can stay injury free, it shouldn’t be a factor,” says D’Cunha.
D’Cunha still retains close links with his homeland - he’s travelled back two or three times to see family, and admits the thought of becoming an international with the Blue Tigers was an option.

Rhys Williams’ mum is India. Source: Getty Images

“It has crossed my mind - but now I have had a taste of playing for Australia, there is no question I would go and play for someone else. What Australia has given me and my family, there would be no hesitation. It was the biggest honour of my career so far.” says D’Cunha.
D’Cunha’s short term goal however, is just to get into the Wanderers first team. If he achieves that, he’ll make history as the first Indian-born player in the national competitions. Long-term, he wants to appear at a World Cup for the Socceroos and play in Europe - just like any other aspiring young professional.
Perhaps then, and only then, he might consider India - but only to play for a club.
“There’s a certain lifestyle in Goa I’d like to experience again - I have thought about it. Not immediately, but maybe in the latter stages of my career. The Indian Super League is a step in the right direction - because there is so much money in India, they have the ability to bring in quality players, like Alessandro Del Piero and Robert Pires. It won’t happen overnight, but hopefully in time it will start to develop and grow.” says D’Cunha.
By then, Shayne D’Cunha might already be a household name - both in Australia, and India.