Saurabh Netravalkar famously bowled the USA to an upset win over Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, continuing his battle with Babar Azam’s team after 14 long years.
Saurabh Netravalkar made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 2013 against Karnataka, progressing from age-group cricket to senior level after seven years. He participated in the Under-15 Polly Umrigar Trophy, the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, and the Under-19 Vinoo Mankad and Cooch Behar Trophies. He made his India Under-19 debut against Australia in a three-day match, picking up 1-39, and played his first 50-over game on that tour as well.
Netravalkar was then picked for the under-19 one-day tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka and South Africa, where he got eight wickets in three games, including a 5-26 against Sri Lanka. It helped him earn a place in the World Cup; he debuted in the competition in 2010 against Afghanistan as part of a line-up that also featured the likes of KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Jaydev Unadkat, and Sandeep and Mohit Sharma.
Netravalkar faces Babar’s team in 2010
A left-arm fast bowler, Netravalkar played all six games for India in the tournament before their quarter-final exit following a two-wicket defeat to Pakistan. After India managed 114-9 in a rain-affected game reduced to 23 overs, he opened the attack alongside Sandeep against Babar Azam and Ahmed Shahzad.
He did not bowl to Babar in the clash, with Babar running two in the first over of the innings, bowled by Sandeep. Netravalkar sent down the second over to Shehzad, who took a run on the first ball amidst plenty of drama: Harpreet Singh dropped a sitter in the field, but the two batters ran one run short, which meant that Shehzad, and not Babar was on strike for the next delivery.
Shehzad played out four dots and hit a four in the remaining five balls of the over. Babar, who faced Sandeep in the next over, did not last long. A four was followed by a lovely swinging delivery that knocked down Babar’s stumps, leading to his dismissal for six.
India continued making inroads in the game, reducing Pakistan to 16-3 at one stage but a recovery from Ahsan Ali and Rameez Aziz brought the side back into the game. India took five wickets in 42 balls but Hammad Azam’s calmness saw them chase down the target with two balls and two wickets to spare.
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Netravalkar ended the game with 1-16 in five overs, having dismissed Shehzad, and was India’s most economical bowler with an economy rate of 3.20.
Netravalkar vs Babar, 14 years later
This time, in different colours, Netravalkar ensured he had the last laugh against Babar’s side: defending 19, he conceded only 13 in the Super Over. He bowled a wide and gave a four on either side of dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed before conceding only three on the last two balls.
Netravalkar bowled to Babar this time, bowling 11 balls to him during the main 20-over match, from which Babar made three.
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