Mumbai-born Saurabh Netravalkar, after playing for India's U-19 team, is now part of the American cricket team. Learn the story of his dual career in cricket and software engineering.
Indian-origin cricketer Saurabh Netravalkar is currently trending rapidly on Google. Cricket enthusiasts are eager to learn about him and his journey. Born in Mumbai, Netravalkar's story is quite interesting, progressing from the India U-19 team to the USA national team.
Who is Saurabh Netravalkar?
According to reports, Saurabh Netravalkar was born on October 16, 1991, in Mumbai. From a young age, he had a deep passion for cricket and began to take it seriously.
Playing at the junior level, Saurabh proved his talent. He delivered an outstanding performance in the 2008-09 Cooch Behar Trophy, taking 30 wickets in just 6 matches.
This excellent performance caught the attention of the selectors, earning him a place in the India U-19 team, a big dream for any young cricketer.
The 2010 U-19 World Cup Journey
Saurabh Netravalkar was selected for the Indian team for the 2010 U-19 World Cup. This was a significant turning point in his career, giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent at an international level.
Played with Star Players
That U-19 team included several players who later became big stars of the Indian national team. These names included KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, and Sandeep Sharma.
Interestingly, another member of that team, Harmeet Singh, also later joined the USA national team. Additionally, Saurabh played his only first-class match for Mumbai against Karnataka in the 2013-14 season.
Journey from Cricket to Engineering
Along with performing brilliantly on the cricket field, Saurabh was also very good at his studies. He maintained a balance between both fields.
Scholarship Changed the Path
After receiving a scholarship from a prestigious university, he decided to go to the USA for higher education. There, he focused on building a career in software engineering.
In the USA, he also designed a cricket app and later started a job as a software engineer at the world-renowned company, Oracle.
Despite building a successful career in engineering, Saurabh did not let his cricket dream die. He kept his passion alive even in America.
Training Alongside a Job
West Indies coach Lloyd Joda recognized his bowling talent and helped him connect with various cricket clubs. After this, Saurabh started taking cricket seriously again.
His dedication was unique. He would work his job at Oracle from morning to evening and then go for cricket training in the evening. This hard work and perseverance led him to the USA national team.
Captaincy of the American Team
Saurabh Netravalkar not only played international cricket for the USA but also earned the honor of leading the team.
He captained the American team in the Regional Super-50 Tournament held in the West Indies and the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament. His journey from India to the USA is an example of passion, hard work, and dedication.