The Unsung Hero of USA's T20 World Cup Journey

The United States made a remarkable impression at the recent T20 World Cup 2024, advancing to the Round of 16 in their debut appearance, even from a group that included cricket powerhouse Pakistan. A significant part of the USA's success can be attributed to the outstanding performances of Saurabh Netravalkar.

Netravalkar, a fast bowler with Indian roots, emerged as one of the USA's standout players on the global stage. At 32 years old, Netravalkar had relocated to the United States after his cricketing career in India didn't pan out as hoped. Originally from Maharashtra, he had represented India in the U-19 World Cup but found it difficult to break into the senior team. Fast- forward to 2024, and he was representing the USA at a T20 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in helping his team defeat Pakistan by successfully bowling the super over—all while maintaining a full-time job at IT giant Oracle.

Reflecting on his journey in India, Netravalkar shared memories of balancing his college exams with his cricket aspirations. He spoke about the challenges he faced during his time as an engineering student, managing his academic responsibilities while striving to keep his cricket dream alive.

In an interview with Crictracker, Netravalkar recounted his experiences as a student and a cricketer. He mentioned his selection for the India U-19 World Cup in 2010, and how he juggled both his studies and sports. Netravalkar remembered how he had to sit for 10 exams in one semester after missing four in the previous one, demonstrating his determination to pursue both education and cricket simultaneously.