NEW DELHI: India-born American medium pacer Saurabh Netravalkar had a heartwarming reunion with Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav after the game in New York.
Netravalkar, who has been performing exceptionally well in the ongoing T20 World Cup, shared a special moment with his old Mumbai companions, reminiscing about their past playing days together.
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"It was special. We were remembering old times because we played since childhood in U-15, U-17. It felt like we carried on from where we left off. Jokes from those times, casual conversations, and dressing room banter," Netravalkar was quoted as saying by PTI in a post-match media interaction.
Having played with Rohit Sharma in Mumbai, Netravalkar also had a chat with the Indian skipper. Reflecting on the interactions, he mentioned, "I did talk to Rohit Sharma, who was my senior in Mumbai. I played with him there. I haven't played much with Virat, but he acknowledged our efforts after the game. It's good that they see potential in this team."
The 32-year-old, who works as a software engineer at Oracle, shifted his focus from cricket to pursue higher education in the US after representing India in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup. However, his passion for the game reignited in the US, where he now plays a significant role in the national team, comprising talent from India, Pakistan, and the West Indies.
Netravalkar's exceptional performances at the T20 World Cup have been nothing short of a dream come true for him. From playing a pivotal role in a thrilling Super Over victory against Pakistan to dismissing Virat Kohli for a golden duck, he is still processing the high-profile moments on the field.
"I'm still digesting what is happening right now. The last two games have been very high-profile. I'm glad we have done well as a unit. Always happy being myself, irrespective of the situation," Netravalkar shared.
Reflecting on his bowling strategy in the recent match, Netravalkar credited the pitch conditions for assisting the bowlers. "The pitch plays a crucial role. Bowlers didn't have to do much, just hit the top of the stumps and let the pitch create the variation rather than us doing it. Credit to the coaching staff for giving us this clarity," he elaborated.
1/10:T20 World Cup: India reach Super Eights with 7-wicket win over US
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2/10:MASSIVE WIN
<p>Suryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten half-century and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh claimed a career-best 4-9 as India defeated the United States by seven wickets to reach the T20 World Cup second round on Wednesday.<br /></p>AFP
3/10:SKY-DUBE SHOW
<p>Chasing 111 to win the Group A clash, India were rattled at 15-2 and then 44-3 before Yadav (50) and Shivam Dube (31) put on an undefeated fourth-wicket stand of 67 <br /></p>ANI
4/10:SOLID STAND
<p><br />The duo secured a third win in three games for India with 10 balls to spare.<br /></p>AP
5/10:USA STILL ALIVE
<p>Despite the defeat, the United States are still well-placed to join India in the Super Eights as they have four points while Pakistan and Canada are on two.<br /></p>AFP
6/10:MAGNIFICENT BOWLING
<p>India were stunned by Mumbai-born fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar who had superstar batsman Virat Kohli caught behind for nought off the first ball he faced.<br /></p>AFP
7/10:BIG WICKET!
<p>Rohit was then caught by Harmeet Singh at mid-off, again off the bowling of the 32-year-old Netravalkar in the third over.<br /></p>AFP
8/10:PANT'S CAMEO
<p>Rishabh Pant's 18-run cameo was ended when his stumps were uprooted by Ali Khan in the eighth over.<br /></p>AP
9/10:SKY ON TOP!
<p>However, Yadav went to his 18th international T20 half-century from 49 balls with two fours and a pair of sixes.<br /></p>IANS
10/10:DUBE ON FIRE!
<p>Left-hander Dube's 31 came off 35 deliveries and featured a boundary and a six on the same notoriously tricky and slow Nassau County International Cricket Stadium pitch where India had made just 119 in a six-run win over Pakistan at the weekend.<br /></p>AFPWhen asked about his dismissal of Virat Kohli, Netravalkar explained, "That's my stock ball. I don't want to give too much away. The first ball, I tried to hit the top of off-stump, as simple as that. I didn't try to do anything special or get a wicket. It was a good ball and it seamed nicely."
While cricket remains a passion for Netravalkar, he also values his career at Oracle and finds joy in balancing both aspects of his life. "I love my job at Oracle, and I enjoy entering the field and bowling every ball. I'm blessed that I get to do what I love the most. That's how it works," he shared.
Reflecting on his journey, Netravalkar acknowledged the challenges and decisions that shaped his path. "It's been a journey of almost a decade with ups and downs. I had to take a practical call when I wasn't making it big in India due to the strong competition there," he recalled. "I got a good offer from one of the top universities, so I thought it was practical to pursue my other love and came here. I'm glad that God has given me another chance to pursue cricket again."
