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.
T20 World Cup Schedule | Points Table
"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.
When 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."
English (US) ·