Jun 7, 2024, 09:39 AM IST
Saurabh Netravalkar turned hero for the United States (USA) after they defeated Pakistan in a Super Over clash in the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
After the USA opted to field first, Netravalkar finished with figures of 4-0-18-2, taking crucial wickets of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, restricting Pakistan to 159 for 7.
Netravalkar's job didn't end there. He was entrusted to bowl in the Super Over, defending 18 runs.
During Super Over, Netravalkar restricted star players Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Fakhar Zaman, helping the USA secure win and move to the top of the table after beating both Canada and Pakistan.
Netravalkar began his cricketing career representing India in the U-19 World Cup in 2010 with players like KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal.
Facing limited opportunities in Indian cricket, Netravalkar moved to USA to study for a Master's degree in Computer Science at Cornell University.
Balancing his life as a professional cricketer and software engineer, Netravalkar landed a job with Oracle after completing his post-graduation.
In 2019, Netravalkar made his international debut for the USA, quickly rising to become the captain, and excelling as an opening bowler in limited-overs cricket.
His experience with Washington Freedom in the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) has further improved his skills, making him a key player for the USA.