The Under-19 World Cup quarterfinal in 2010 was a heartbreaking experience for Saurabh Netravalkar. After fourteen years, he helped the United States defeat Pakistan in a T20 World Cup match by defending eighteen runs in a Super Over, setting them up for the Super Eights.
Netravalkar is now on leave from his day job, but if things go well in the USA, he might need to stay longer. With a master’s degree in computer engineering, he started his journey from India to the USA, but his love of cricket never wavered. Playing with such luminaries as Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina in India, he made an impression at both the Under-19 World Cup and local competitions.
Netravalkar experienced highs and lows in his cricket career, including playing in the Ranji Trophy. He moved to Cornell University in 2015 after deciding to pursue academics instead of a sporadic cricket career. In the USA, he played cricket for fun until 2018, when he joined the national squad. His Major League cricket efforts, which included a noteworthy 6 for 9 against the San Francisco Unicorns, solidified his dominance.
Netravalkar, who will face Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of his former Indian teammates, is a vital player for the USA.
