USA Pacer Saurabh Netravalkar Stuns India, Earns Praise from Legends

Saurabh Netravalkar, the Mumbai-born USA pacer, has emerged as a star performer in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. His impressive performances have not only caught the attention of cricket fans but also earned him praise from legendary Indian cricketers.

Netravalkar's journey to the international stage has been a remarkable one. He represented India in the 2010 U19 World Cup before moving to the United States to pursue his engineering studies. Despite his academic commitments, Netravalkar continued to play cricket and eventually made his debut for the USA national team in 2022.

In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Netravalkar has been a key figure for USA. He delivered a nerveless Super Over to secure a thrilling victory against Pakistan in their opening match. In the subsequent game against India, he dismissed both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of the most feared batsmen in world cricket.

After the match against India, Netravalkar expressed his emotions, saying, "It was an emotional moment for me. I played the 2010 U19 World Cup for India too, and it was a special feeling to play against them."

Netravalkar's performances have not gone unnoticed by former Indian cricketers. Navjot Singh Sidhu praised him for his all-round abilities, saying, "You're all-in-one my friend! You're an engineer, you're Suryakumar Yadav's friend, and now you're taking wickets against India! Love you."

Harbhajan Singh also joined in the chorus of praise, saying, "I wanted to thank him for that Super Over against Pakistan. And the courage he showed while bowling today (against India) won my heart."

Netravalkar's efforts have been instrumental in USA's impressive run in the tournament. With four wickets in three matches at an economy rate of just 5.20, he has played a crucial role in helping his team qualify for the Super 8.

USA will face Ireland on June 14 in a match that will determine their fate in the tournament. A victory over Ireland will send USA through to the Super 8 from Group A, confirming Pakistan's elimination in the process.

Tags: #SaurabhNetravalkar, #USACricket, #T20WorldCup, #India, #ViratKohli