The cricket system in the USA, similar to in different parts of the world, isn’t always without its flaws. Although it represents a vast emerging marketplace for the game, its early years were marred by controversies. Despite these challenges, one positive development has been the establishment of Major League Cricket (MLC), a premier T20 competition.
MLC has created a platform for players from diverse countries and backgrounds to interact with some of the sport’s biggest names. This league provides an indirect pathway for Indian cricketers, who are unable to play outside of India, to showcase their talents if they relocate to the USA for various reasons.
As MLC 2024 approaches the qualifiers, three Indian-born players are particularly keen to make their mark. Let’s take a closer look at their stories:
1. Milind Kumar – Texas Super Kings
Right-handed batsman Milind Kumar was once quite a celebrity in Indian domestic cricket. He began his career in the Ranji Trophy with his hometown Delhi before moving to Sikkim for the 2018-19 season, where he emerged as the highest run-scorer with 1331 runs beating the top players as the faces of Wasim Jaffer and Rinku Singh .
Kumar had brief spells in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, limited opportunities led him to move to the USA around 2021, where he initially played in Minor League Cricket. His impressive performances there earned him a spot in the Texas Super Kings (TSK) for the inaugural MLC season. Kumar has since secured his place in the team, regularly batting at number five under the leadership of Faf du Plessis.
This season, Kumar contributed to TSK’s third-place finish in the league stage. His early matches included a couple of unbeaten innings, though he didn’t have much to bat in those games. He later scored two runs each in two consecutive matches before making a decent 29 (28) against the Seattle Orcas just before the playoffs.
2. Monank Patel – MI New York
Monank Patel is a well-known figure as the captain of the USA national team, which he led commendably during the recent 2024 T20 World Cup, including scoring a half-century against Pakistan. Born in Anand, Gujarat, Patel moved to the USA permanently in 2016 to open a restaurant in New Jersey, having earned his green card in 2010.
Although Patel played only age-group cricket in Gujarat, his cricketing development primarily occurred in the USA, leading to his international debut in 2018. As a keeper-batsman, he has struggled to replicate his international form in MLC.
Last season, he managed just 63 runs, and in the current edition, apart from a notable 61-run inning against TSK in a losing effort, he has not surpassed eight runs in six other games. However, his potential to shine in critical matches might still come through as MLC progresses.
3. Saurabh Netravalkar – Washington Freedom
The journey of Saurabh Netravalkar is one of the most famous stories in Indian cricket teams. Born in Mumbai in 1991, the leading wicket-taker in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup is a promising left-arm spinner. Netrawalkar moved to the US. in 2015 to pursue a career in software engineering but continued his passion for cricket, which ultimately led to his international debut for the US
In MLC 2024, Netra Valkar has confirmed her growing popularity. Despite missing two matches due to the birth of a child, he picked up 12 wickets in five games, making him the top wicket-taker in the tournament and his performances, especially in the powerplay, have been significant in the Washington Freedom victory, helping them gain the top spot in the league table.
Although he went wicketless against the San Francisco Unicorns in a recent match, he is expected to bounce back strongly in the upcoming qualifier against the same team. These three players highlight the opportunities MLC provides for cricketers with diverse backgrounds and journeys, fostering a unique cricketing ecosystem in the USA.
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