On Wednesday, he took an important step towards realising that dream by becoming a New Zealand citizen, along with 34 others, in the Skeggs Gallery, Dunedin Municipal Chambers.
His parents were overjoyed for their son as he "belongs" to New Zealand, his father, Manjunath Shastri, said.
"We are feeling very proud because his biggest dream has always been to play for the Black Caps," Mr Shastri said.
"We have been back to India many times but he has always missed New Zealand as he considers it his home."
Avinash was born in Bangalore, India, but his family migrated to New Zealand when he was 2 years old, moving to Dunedin in 2004.
An Otago under-14 cricket representative, who attends Andersons Bay School, he was the youngest new citizen at the citizenship ceremony.
"I was really nervous when they started calling the names out, but when I went up for my certificate I was fine," he said.
"I'm finally happy to be a New Zealander."
The ceremony also gave him the opportunity to meet a local hero of his, Mayor Peter Chin, who presented new citizens with their citizenship certificates.
"It's the first time I've met Peter Chin and that was really nice, because he is someone I look up to," he said.
"I have a photo of him now, which is cool."
New citizens from many nations, including Argentina, Holland, China, Fiji and Belize, were welcomed at the ceremony.
They were. -Mr Soane Ngutukoula Alipate (Tonga); Mr Pablo Eduardo Alvarez Rey (Argentina); Miss Gede Barlow (Britain); Mr Graham John Barty (Britain); Mrs Allison Barty (Britain); Mr Matthew Myron Stefan Biernat (Australia); Mrs Mary Frances Campbell-Wharam (Britain); Ms Qin Chen (China); Ms Emma Louise Cooper (Britain); Miss Madonna Ferrao (India); Mr Neil Anthony Christopher Flynn (Britain); Miss Seoungyeun Han (Korea); Mrs Annemieke Harmonie (Holland); Mr Xiangfei Jia (China); Mr Saleem Khan (Fiji); Mr Shane Imran Khan (Fiji); Mr Mark John David Kliegl (South Africa); Miss Shanting Li (China); Mr Robert McLellan McFarlane (Britain); Mr Turgut Ortabas (Turkey); Miss Deshnee Pillay (South Africa); Mr Kang Chew Png (Singapore); Mr Marcos Santana (Belize); Master Avinash Shastri (India); Mr Rodney Terence Smith (Britain); Mrs Janet Margaret Smith (Britain); Mr Bryan Edward Taylor (Britain); Mrs Patsy Taylor (Britain); Mr Andries Van Der Zande (Holland); Mrs Belinda Van Der Zande (Britain); Miss Sophie Van Der Zande (Holland); Miss Natalie Van Der Zande (Holland); Miss Isabelle Van Der Zande (Holland); Mr Bryan Geddes Wild (South Africa); Mrs Lei Xia (China).
- Justis Kamu
