The USA's debut at the T20 World Cup has been nothing short of sensational.
Their victory against last edition's finalists, Pakistan, was a triumph of perseverance and talent.
The architects of this win were a group of cricketers whose journeys to this point have been far from conventional.
Monank Patel
Monank Patel, the captain of the USA cricket team, hails from Ahmedabad. His half-century performance earned him the player of the match award.
Patel moved to the USA in 2010 with a Green Card and settled in New Jersey in 2016 to pursue his cricketing career.
A hard-hitting right-hander, he also coaches diaspora kids thrice a week when not on national duty.
Initially, there were few turf wickets in the USA, and Patel played on matting and in 20 and 30-over weekend club tournaments across the country.
Saurabh Netravalkar
Saurabh Netravalkar, the hero of the Super Over, played a pivotal role in the victory.
Known for his deadly away swingers and cunning slow full-tosses, Netravalkar’s story is one of balancing academics and sports.
In 2010, he competed against future stars like Joe Root and Ben Stokes in the U-19 World Cup. Despite his talent, breaking into Mumbai’s top cricket echelon proved challenging.
With an engineering degree in Computer Science, Netravalkar received a scholarship to Cornell University.
While pursuing his MS, he continued playing cricket, eventually making a name for himself in US cricket and Major League Cricket.
Off the field, he works as a senior techie at Oracle in Silicon Valley.
Harmeet Singh
Harmeet Singh, once touted by Ian Chappell as a future Indian cricket star, found himself in trouble after a series of disciplinary issues.
His career in India dwindled, leading him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
He moved to Tripura as a professional but found little success.
Eventually, he migrated to the USA, where he rediscovered his form. His recent performances, including a series against Bangladesh, have been impressive.
Singh’s quick thinking and cricketing intelligence were on display when he stole extra runs in the Super Over against Pakistan.
Nosthush Kenjige
Born in Alabama, Nosthush Kenjige’s journey is fascinating.
He moved to Ooty with his parents and switched from left-arm medium pace to spin at the age of 13.
By 18, he played in Bengaluru’s KSCA first division league but struggled to break into the Karnataka state side.
Returning to the USA, he pursued bio-medical engineering and landed a job in Washington DC.
During evening squash games, he learned about club cricket in New York. Leaving his job, he became a key player for the USA from ICC’s WCL Division 4.
His journey underscores the importance of passion and perseverance.
Milind Kumar
Milind Kumar, once seen as a promising talent in Delhi, became a fringe player after seven years.
Moving to Sikkim, he scored over 1300 runs in the Plate League, but it wasn’t enough to secure a place in the Indian team.
Post-COVID, he migrated to the USA, where he excelled in domestic tournaments.
Known for his fielding skills, Kumar’s brilliant catch in the Super Over against Pakistan ended their hopes.
His journey is a testament to the relentless pursuit of dreams.
Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar’s story is one of early promise and enduring talent. In 2011, he became the youngest player to participate in a 50-over World Cup game at 16 years and 283 days for Canada.
Thirteen years later, his boundary off the last delivery from Haris Rauf became a defining moment. As Ian Bishop might say, "
Jaspreet "Jessy" Singh
Born in New Jersey and raised in rural Punjab, Jessy Singh's path to cricketing success has been arduous.
After being excluded from the US team in 2015, Singh doubled his training efforts.
With the guidance of coach Pubudu Dassanayeke and first-class matches in Sri Lanka, Singh honed his skills.
His delivery that dismissed Babar Azam is now celebrated as the ball of his career, cementing his place in the USA's pace attack alongside Ali Khan.
These players, each with their unique backstories, have come together to create a formidable team that has made an indelible mark on international cricket.
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