Saurabh Netravalkar helped the USA defeat Pakistan in a Super Over during the 2024 T20 World Cup on Thursday, June 6. The left-arm seamer defended 19 runs, leading his team to a five-run victory. USA won the toss and opted to field. Pakistan posted 159/7 in their 20 overs, with captain Babar Azam scoring 44 and all-rounder Shadab Khan adding 40.
Netravalkar delivered an excellent spell, conceding only 18 runs in his four overs and taking the key wickets of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed. The match went to a Super Over after USA also finished their innings at 159/3.
USA secured a memorable victory thanks to Netravalkar’s exceptional bowling in the Super Over. Interestingly, his talents extend beyond cricket; he is also a musician. An old video of Saurabh Netravalkar has gone viral on social media, showing the 32-year-old playing the ukulele and singing “Om Namah Shivaya.” Watch the clip below:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5WwMPLP1AF/?igsh=MmVkZ3Bmc2xjd2Jp
Saurabh Netravalkar, born in Mumbai, has represented Mumbai in domestic cricket and made his Ranji Trophy debut against Karnataka in 2013. He was also a member of India’s U-19 team for the 2010 U-19 World Cup, alongside players like Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Sandeep Sharma, and Harshal Patel.
Netravalkar relocated to New York after gaining admission to Cornell University. Besides his cricketing career, he is a software engineer and works at Oracle in San Francisco.
“For a left-armer, the angle helps” –USA captain Monank Patel on choosing Saurabh Netravalkar to bowl in the Super Over
USA captain Monank Patel entrusted Saurabh Netravalkar with the task of bowling in the Super Over, favoring the left-arm pacer over Ali Khan, who typically handles the death overs for the team.
Patel justified his choice by highlighting Netravalkar’s proficiency with cutters and wide yorkers, which he believed would be more effective in the prevailing conditions. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he stated:
“The plan was we wanted to make sure that we utilise the conditions. And the condition was a left-arm bowler bowling cutters and wide yorkers with left-arm over angle going out.”
“Ali Khan usually attacks the stumps, but we wanted to make sure that we make them play outside off stump. And for a left-armer, the angle helps. Saurabh had had a good day, and I backed him.”
USA has started their 2024 T20 World Cup journey with consecutive victories. Next up, they face India in New York on Wednesday, June 12th.
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