The United States of America announced itself on the world stage with a stunning upset victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. In a nail-biting encounter on June 6th in Dallas, the American team, led by a heroic performance from Saurabh Netravalkar in the Super Over, secured a historic win against the 2022 World Cup finalists.
Netravalkar, a left-arm seamer born in Mumbai, displayed nerves of steel in the pressure cooker situation of the Super Over. He conceded only 13 runs and picked up the crucial wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed, effectively shutting down Pakistan’s chase of a modest 19-run target. This exceptional performance has catapulted Netravalkar into the spotlight, earning him plaudits from across the cricketing world.
Among his well-wishers was former India U-19 teammate Sandeep Sharma. The Rajasthan Royals, in a unique gesture, shared a video message from Sandeep congratulating Netravalkar on his international debut. “Actually after the Under-19, he [Netravalkar] left cricket and went to the USA for higher studies,” Sandeep Sharma reminisced in the video filmed during IPL 2024.
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He added, “I would say, all the best yaar. It’s everyone’s dream to play international cricket. You’re an international player now. Be it against India, once you’re on the field, be professional. Try to win the game for your team.”
Netravalkar and Sandeep shared a past together, having played for India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup under the captaincy of Ashok Menaria. Other notable players from that team include prominent names like KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Harshal Patel, and Jaydev Unadkat.
14 years ago, Sandeep Sharma and Saurabh Netrawalkar played together for India U19 🔥🤯 pic.twitter.com/6WV1Mz2MSM
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) June 7, 2024
Pakistan, chasing a seemingly achievable target of 160 runs, fell short by a single run, forcing the thrilling Super Over. The USA, despite being restricted to 159/3 in their allotted 20 overs, emerged victorious in the nerve-wracking tie-breaker. This win propelled them to the top of Group A, boasting a perfect record of two wins from two matches after their earlier victory against Canada.
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USA captain Monank Patel, awarded Player of the Match for his crucial half-century, expressed optimism about their chances of continuing their winning streak. “With the brand of cricket we have played,” he declared, “we fancy our chances of beating Ireland on June 14th.” Even with a potential loss to cricketing giants India on June 12th, the USA remains in a strong position to qualify for the Super Eight stage.
For Pakistan, however, the road ahead appears much more challenging. Their upcoming clash against India on June 9th holds immense significance. A loss to their arch-rivals would leave them dependent on USA dropping points in their remaining matches to maintain their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
