Saurabh Netravalkar from the USA is a rare talent prodigy, excelling in both academics and sports.
Hailing from Mumbai, he played domestic cricket for the Mumbai team and represented India in the Under-19 World Cup, alongside notable players like Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul. Skipping his exams to play for his country proved to be a wise decision, as he emerged as the leading wicket-taker for India in that tournament.
However, with Mumbai already boasting a formidable pace attack, he was not in contention for a spot on the team. Consequently, he pursued his master’s degree in the USA, driven by his interest in coding, and developed an app called CricDeCode. When the ICC reduced the eligibility period to play for the USA, Netravalkar’s fortunes changed once more. His domestic performances caught the attention of the coach and the team.
After graduation, he got a job at Oracle and continued to play cricket while working, thanks to the necessary support from the company. In February 2019, he was appointed as the USA T20I captain for the series against the UAE. His leadership was recognized, and he was made captain for the Division 2 Under-19 World Cup. The progress continued, and he received a central contract from USA Cricket for three months. He became the first bowler from the USA to bag a five-wicket haul in ODI cricket. In May 2022, he was the leading wicket-taker for USA Cricket. Advancing further, he took another five-wicket haul in a T20I match during the Global Qualifier.
The USA got the opportunity to play in the 2024 T20I World Cup and entered the tournament as underdogs. However, the tides turned when the USA won the opening match against Canada. In their second game, Netravalkar bowled the famous super over against Pakistan, defending 18 runs to win the match. That victory propelled the USA to the top of the points table and earned them global recognition. They lost against India, but he claimed the crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, giving India a tough fight. With their last game being washed out, they proceeded to the Super 8 stage and secured automatic qualification for the 2026 T20I World Cup.
Apparently, Saurabh manages both his job and cricket. He even works from his hotel room after matches. It is joyous to watch someone excelling in both careers and fulfilling expectations accordingly. We wish Saurabh all the best for his prosperous career ahead.
