June 8 (Reuters) – Saurabh Netravalkar played a key role in American cricket’s finest hour when they stunned Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but the software engineer is eager to prove himself on an even bigger stage when Los Angeles hosts the Olympic Games in two years.
Netravalkar thought he was done with cricket after leaving India to study in the United States in 2015.
The former India under-19 international gradually resumed playing at a recreational level before entering club cricket and debuted for the US in 2019, three years after landing a job at Oracle.
For years, his coworkers had no idea he traveled the country on weekends to play in tournaments.
The fast bowler’s life story and the famous victory he led the American team to in their first Twenty20 World Cup campaign have inspired a documentary Willow TV will air this month.
“The Long Game: Saurabh Netravalkar, Between Two Worlds” is directed by Pierre ‘Pyare’ Friquet and chronicles Netravalkar’s journey in the fields of technology and cricket, the highlight being the ‘Super Over’, where his tight bowling led the United States to a historic victory against former champions Pakistan.
Highlights of the match are shown in parallel with key events in Netravalkar’s life, recreating his memories through animation.
“We also recreated nightmare sequences where we explored his ego… a kind of evil self, the voice that says you’ll never make it, you’ll never be a cricketer, you’ll never follow your passion,” Friquet said.
Netravalkar said the film accurately depicts moments from his childhood.
“I actually had tears in my eyes when I saw it,” he said.
“I’m very comfortable being a raw version of myself and just spreading it around.”
Netravalkar, 34, now aims to become an Olympian when cricket returns at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The International Cricket Council is yet to announce the qualifying format but is expected to choose one team from each continent, while the United States can clinch a host spot.
“We can see a trend where the team is transitioning towards younger… there is a focus on building that team for 2028,” Netravalkar told Reuters. “My goal is to stay in shape and do the best I can to continue performing and be there.”
Netravalkar finds a way to juggle his work with matches, practice sessions and international tours. He says his IT experience helps him in the field.
“Cricket is more physically intensive, but at an elite level it is more of a mental sport… the analytical and algorithmic thinking skills that you get in your IT job, that helps prepare me better as a cricketer,” he added.
“So while I’m doing certain things… I try to fully immerse myself, and then it doesn’t feel like work.”