Saurabh Netravalkar is the new captain of the US cricket team. But get this, the man was part of our Under-19 team at the World Cup in 2010! Yes, the current skipper of USA has represented India in a major tournament as a teenager.
He was our highest wicket-taker in a tournament not worth remembering. The man then quit the game to study computer science in Cornell University and now fate has once again brought him back to the game he loved so much.
USAcricket
“I gave two years full-time to cricket but felt I wasn’t making it to the next level,” he told TOI.
Even while working as a techie, Saurabh did not lose touch with cricket. He would go to practice and also play 50-over matches over weekends. This way his job was not affected and he kept himself in shape.
Mid-Day
“On Friday, I used to leave a little early from office with a fellow player and drive to LA. We would play a 50-over game in LA on Saturday. Then we would drive back in the night and play a 50-over game in San Francisco on Sunday. It was back to work on Monday. I put in a lot of effort which was noticed by the selectors. I got picked this January when I became eligible for national selection,” he said.
His first assignment as the leader is to go to Oman where USA shall take place in the ICC World Cricket League Division 3.
AFP
Here’s wishing him all the best and may he excel in the game and take US cricket to higher heights.