Indian-Origin Players Dominate USA’s T20 World Cup Squad
The United States has announced its 15-member squad for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, boasting a remarkable presence of players with Indian roots. Among them, Monank Patel, a wicketkeeper-batter hailing from Gujarat, will lead the team as captain. Joining Patel in the side is left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, who was born in Mumbai and has balanced his cricket career with his profession at US tech giant Oracle.
Patel, who previously represented Gujarat at Under-16 and Under-19 levels, has been a consistent performer for the US team since his debut in 2018. On the other hand, Netravalkar, who has played for India in the U-19 World Cup, has juggled his passion for cricket with his professional commitments. His unique story has garnered attention, as his employer, Oracle, is also the official title sponsor of Major League Cricket 2024 in the US.
In addition to Patel and Netravalkar, the squad features several other players with Indian lineage, including Harmeet Singh, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler born in Mumbai; Jessy Singh, a right-arm medium pacer with Punjabi roots; Milind Kumar, a Delhi-born all-rounder; Nisarg Patel, a left-arm orthodox batter from Gujarat; and Noshtush Kenjige, a left-arm orthodox bowler born in Atlanta but raised in Bengaluru, India.
The inclusion of these Indian-origin players highlights the growing influence of the Indian diaspora in American cricket. They bring with them a wealth of experience and skill, bolstering the USA’s chances of making an impact at the T20 World Cup. The tournament is slated to kick off in June 2024, with the opening match between the USA and Canada being played in Texas.
