Techie turned hero, Saurabh Netravalkar’s tough journey comes to light as USA upset Pakistan 

Saurabh Netravalkar emerged as the hero for the United States (USA) of America as they defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over clash at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The left-arm pacer delivered a terrific performance, helping the USA secure victory over Pakistan in their first-ever clash in the T20 World Cup 2024. Staying calm under immense pressure, Netravalkar showcased his true abilities on the big stage.

USA won the toss and opted to bowl. Netravalkar shone with the ball, taking 2 wickets while conceding just 18 runs in his 4 overs as the USA restricted Pakistan to 159/7. He dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed to help the USA gain the upper hand. Netravalkar’s impressive performance continued in the Super Over, where he defended 18 runs to deny the Pakistan batters any opportunities to score freely.

Netravalkar drew on his vast experience to masterfully restrict the formidable batting lineup of Shadab Khan, Iftikhar, and Fakhar Zaman during the Super Over. Joyed by their victories over Canada and Pakistan, the USA are now number one in Group A, brimming with confidence.

The 32-year-old left-arm fast bowler has forged an unconventional path that blends sports and technology. His cricketing career showed early promise when he represented India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup, playing alongside rising stars like KL Rahul, Jaydev Unadkat, and Mayank Agarwal. However, the lack of opportunities in the Indian cricket system soon prompted Netravalkar to pursue higher education in the United States.

He then relocated to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in Computer Science at the prestigious Cornell University. It marks his beginning of a dual career as both a professional cricketer and a software engineer. Upon completing his postgraduate studies, Netravalkar secured a lucrative position at Oracle, a prominent technology company.

Netravalkar quickly rose through the ranks after making his international debut for the USA in 2019, eventually becoming the national team’s captain. As an opening bowler, he has proven himself with both the new ball and in the latter stages of limited-overs matches. Furthermore, Netravalkar’s experience of playing for the Washington Freedom in the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament, has polished his skills.