Saurabh Netravalkar was born on 16 October 1991 in Mumbai and is a left-arm fast-medium bowler who has established himself as an international cricketer. Now 32, he currently represents the United States national cricket team, having taken a long journey through different teams and formats where he eventually hones his craft and leadership skills onto the field.
In his cricketing career, he intermeshed the professional life of a software engineer at Oracle. The perfect epitome of versatility and dedication resulted. Here is all you need to know about USA’s cricket sensation:
Who is Saurabh Netravalkar?
Early Life and Education
Born to Goan parents from Netravali, Netravalkar spent his childhood in Mumbai, where his interest in cricket began. He did his schooling at the Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, after which he moved to the United States in 2015 to pursue a master’s degree in computer science from Cornell University.
His studies never affected his love for the game, and it ended up turning out that they served his career pretty well. At Cornell, he designed a player analysis app, CricDecode, which was representative of how fusion between his technical and athletic abilities can look like.
Junior Cricket Journey
The cricketing talent came out in bits and pieces in Netravalkar. His disciplined bowling spell at NCA, Bengaluru, saw him catching many an eye when he bowled out Yuvraj Singh. His performance earned him a chance to feature in the big-ticket BCCI Corporate Trophy where he shared the dressing room with then cricket stars Robin Uthappa and Suresh Raina. The showing in the Cooch Behar Trophy, where he took 30 wickets in just six matches, really sealed his reputation as a young talent bright enough as a bowler. Rise
Through the Ranks
The 2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup had him represent India with other future Indian cricket stars like KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. Netravalkar, despite keeping his academic commitments on hold to feature in the event, finished as India’s highest wicket-taker with nine wickets from six matches.
Breaking into the senior Mumbai and Indian national teams was not that easy, though, with established pace bowlers such as Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar around.
Transition to the United States
In 2016, Netravalkar started representing the North West Region at the USACA National Championship in the United States. His performances further incited the interest of the national selectors. By January 2018, he was a part of the United States national team for the Regional Super50 tournament in the West Indies.
His List A debut for the USA was with two wickets in the same game, marking his international career’s beginning with the USA.
Captaincy and Leadership
In October 2018, Netravalkar was named captain of the United States team for both the Regional Super50 tournament and the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Oman.
His leadership extended into the Twenty20 format, where he led the USA in their first T20I series against UAE in March 2019. His debut T20I match in this series marked a huge milestone for Netravalkar and USA Cricket.
ODI and T20I Debuts
Netravalkar made his ODI debut for the USA on 27 April 2019 against Papua New Guinea in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament. His T20I debut was earlier in March 2019 against the UAE.
He has returned some impressive bowling figures throughout his career to date, including 5-32 against the UAE in an ODI, the first time a USA bowler has taken five wickets in an innings.
International Recognition
It was during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June 2024 that Netravalkar rose to international fame by bowling a supreme, decisive super over against Pakistan and securing a famous win for the USA. This performance not only elevated the standing of the USA in the tournament but also underlined the calibre of the fast bowler and his coolness under pressure.
This marvellous achievement was celebrated by colleagues at Oracle, where he works as a principal member of the technical staff.
Domestic and Franchise Cricket
Netravalkar’s abilities extend beyond the international game to domestic and franchise cricket. In March 2023, he was drafted to play for Major League Cricket side Washington Freedom.
He ended the inaugural season as the third-highest wicket-taker, with one of his performances being a 6/9 against the San Francisco Unicorns. His efforts have been critical in raising the profile of the game in the USA. His performances in the 2024 season cannot be taken for granted either.
You must read: Top 5 Wicket-Takers of MLC 2024
Career Stats
Netravalkar’s career statistics are prolific across several formats. He has played 48 ODIs, having taken 73 wickets at an average of 22.27. In T20Is, he has 33 wickets in 33 matches with an average of 21.03.
His List A career is at 117 wickets in 80 matches, definitely a testament to his consistency and talent as a bowler. These stats reflect his ability to adapt and hence perform in different conditions and formats.
Legacy and Future
Saurabh Netravalkar’s journey from Bombay to now representing the United States in international cricket is one of dedication, talent, and versatility. In juggling his successful career in software engineering with his passion for cricket, he remains an inspiration to several young cricketers.
His leadership and performances have gone a long way in serving as cornerstones of growth for cricket in the USA, and his legacy will surely influence future generations of cricketers in both India and the United States.
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Saurabh Netravalkar now eyes IPL 2025 after MLC 2025 performances
