Indians owning Pakistan even in USA: India-born Engineer gets his revenge over PAK after 14 years

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 saw one of the biggest upsets in sport's history when the host nation of USA defeated Pakistan in the Super Over in a thrilling Group A clash. 

Pakistan scored 159 in the first innings and set a target of 160 to chase. As it turned out, a valiant effort by Mohank Patel and Aaron Jones for USA meant they got to a score of 159 and the match progressed into the Super Over. In the Super Over, USA got to the score of 18 runs and set a target for 19 to chase. 

Up against Pakistan's quality and experience, stepped up USA's left arm medium pacer - Saurabh Netravalkar, the man who was on a tear for India in the Under 19 Cricket World Cup 14 years ago, and an engineer for Oracle. Netravalkar pulled off an excellent final over picking up the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed and limited Pakistan to only 13 runs to script an iconic victory for USA, one that will go down in the rafters. 

Also Read | T20 World Cup 2024: Spirited USA upset former champions Pakistan

14 years later, Saurabh Netravalkar gets his revenge over Pakistan 

While Cricketing World had its first real introduction to Saurabh Netravalkar in the USA vs Pakistan match in the T20 World CUp 2024. 

But long before his latest exploits, Netravalkar was a promising pacer for India who had a run in with Pakistan and Babar Azam before in the 2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. 

Back in the 2010 Under 19 world cup, the game between India and Pakistan was ravaged by rain and reduced to 23 overs. India set a target of only 115 to chase. 

Pakistan were in the ascendanscy but as it turned out, Saurabh Netravalkar playing for India in that game took one wicket in his 5 over spell and bowled his heart out as he conceded just 16 runs at an excellent economy of 3.20. 

But in the end it was not enough as Pakistan got to the total and won the match by 2 wickets and 3 balls to spare. 

What ended in heartbreak that night turned to elation as it never quite worked out for Saurabh Netravalkar in India and 14 years later he returned with USA to complete his revenge over Pakistan in the super over and create history in cricket. 

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An Engineer for Oracle

What makes Saurabh's story even more impressive is that he is playing cricket for USA while also working as an engineer for Oracle. 

His LinkedIN bio has surfaced on social media which shows he is currently employed for Oracle as Principle member of technology staff.  

Oracle took to X, to congratulate their employee as he continues to star for USA in the T20 World Cup 2024. 

The USA have now won their first two games against Canada and Pakistan. They are nicely poised to pull off an upset and qualify for the Super 8 stage. They will face India and Ireland in their remaining group stage fixtures in the T20 World Cup 2024.