Team USA: The Rise of Cricket from Uber Drivers to Techies
Cricket, one of the oldest and richest sports globally, is gaining traction in the United States, a nation known more for its love of baseball and football. This newfound popularity is partly thanks to Saurabh Netravalkar, whose heroic performance has introduced many Americans to the sport for the first time.
A Historic Victory
Netravalkar, a 32-year-old software engineer at Oracle Corp, led Team USA to a stunning victory over Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. This win, at a Dallas stadium, is considered one of the biggest upsets in cricket history. The game against Pakistan saw Netravalkar deliver a sensational Super Over, restricting Pakistan to a mere 13 runs and leading the USA to a famous win. This victory not only advanced the team to the next stage of the tournament but also brought significant attention to cricket in the US.
An Eclectic Team
The USA cricket team is a unique blend of professionals from various walks of life, including techies, restaurant workers, and Uber drivers. Their participation in the four-week tournament, which spans New York, Florida, Texas, and the Caribbean, earns them around $10,000 each. Despite their diverse backgrounds, these players have shown remarkable dedication and skill, capturing the imagination of new American cricket fans.
Netravalkar’s Dual Life
Balancing his professional career and cricket, Netravalkar is a Senior Software Engineer at Oracle. He describes his role as implementing features in C and SQL, including working on vector-based searching and AI-enhanced searchability within Oracle databases. Despite the demands of his job, he has managed to excel in cricket, highlighting his passion and commitment to the sport.
A Journey from India to USA
Netravalkar’s cricket journey began in Mumbai, India, where he played for the India U19 team. After his cricket aspirations in India were curtailed, he pursued a Master’s in Computer Science from Cornell University and later joined Oracle in San Francisco. His work at Oracle includes developing features for enhanced searchability using AI within databases, for which he holds a patent and awaits approval for another.
Cricket’s Rising Popularity in the USA
The recent successes of Team USA, including their match against Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida, which was abandoned due to weather, have spotlighted cricket in the US. The sport has been steadily growing in popularity, particularly in regions with large South Asian communities such as Dallas, Houston, New York, and Los Angeles. Influential Indian-born business leaders, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, have supported Major League Cricket, aiming to attract American audiences.
A Growing Market
Netravalkar believes cricket has a huge untapped market in the US. “Americans love their sports; they just need to connect with it,” he said. The shorter T20 format, typically lasting three to four hours, is particularly appealing to new fans. With the increasing excitement among the expat community, there’s potential for cricket to grow within the broader American sports culture.
Upcoming Challenges
Team USA, buoyed by their recent performances, prepares to face South Africa on June 19 in Antigua. As cricket’s popularity continues to rise in the US, Netravalkar and his teammates hope to inspire more Americans to embrace this storied sport.
Conclusion
The rise of cricket in the USA and the strategic moves by tech giants like OpenAI reflect a broader trend of integrating global perspectives and expertise into American sports and technology. As cricket finds its footing in the US, led by figures like Saurabh Netravalkar, and AI companies enhance their security measures with experienced leaders like Paul Nakasone, the future looks promising for both fields.
