Saurabh Netravalkar, the USA left-arm seamer, has been making waves in the cricketing world with his performances in the T20 World Cup 2024. Among his notable achievements is the dismissal of Indian cricketing stalwart, Virat Kohli. This event, according to Netravalkar, was an emotional moment.
Saurabh Netravalkar’s inspiring cricketing journey
Netravalkar’s journey in cricket is nothing short of inspirational. From playing for India in the U-19 World Cup 2010 to working as a developer in Oracle, and now representing the USA in the T20 World Cup, his story reflects his passion for the sport. His performances in the tournament, including defending 18 runs against Pakistan in the super over and dismissing Kohli, have put him in the spotlight.
The match against India was particularly significant for Netravalkar. During India’s clash against the USA, he dismissed Kohli with the very first ball of his innings, making him edge it to the wicketkeeper for a golden duck. This was the first time Kohli was dismissed for a golden duck in World Cup history. Netravalkar also dismissed India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, causing early trouble for India in their chase of 111.
Reflecting on these high-profile games, Netravalkar shared, “I am just happy that I can pursue both my passions. It is all happening very fast and I am in the process of digesting it. It was an emotional moment to get Virat’s wicket. I was looking to hit off-stump and it worked out well.”
Saurabh Netravalkar said "It was a very emotional moment to Virat Kohli's wicket – I didn't know Virat personally but he did congratulate me and my performance after the match". ♥️👑
📸: @ICC / Instagram#INDvsUSA #KingKohli #indiancricketer #T20I #T20IWorldCup2024 #Sehwag… pic.twitter.com/SB0qjVk6Lu
— Fantasy Khiladi (@_fantasykhiladi) June 14, 2024
Netravalkar’s dismissal of Kohli was not just a personal achievement, but also a moment of recognition on the international stage. It symbolized the potential of teams like the USA to compete with cricketing giants like India.
Despite the intensity of the match, there was a display of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Netravalkar, who shared the Mumbai dressing room with Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav, revealed that Kohli congratulated him on his achievement. “I didn’t know Virat personally but he did congratulate me,” he added.
Also Read: Chinese fans turn Singapore Goalie Hassan Sunny into a Hero, Know the reason why
