(AP Photo)
India securing their spot in the Super 8 stage hinges on clinching a third consecutive victory in Group A, this time against a New York team predominantly comprised of expatriates.
Regardless of the tournament’s future outcomes, the United States has already etched one of the most captivating narratives of this T20 World Cup. Their stunning victory over Pakistan, achieved through a Super Over in Dallas last Thursday, stands as a testament to their remarkable journey as co-hosts alongside West Indies.
Since the unforgettable afternoon at the Grand Prairie Stadium, the eclectic mix of players, predominantly hailing from India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, and Barbados, has captured widespread interest and sparked a frenzy of media attention. This is hardly surprising, as this moment holds the potential to significantly alter the lives of these athletes and, more broadly, to shape the trajectory of cricket’s expansion into the American market.
Another chance to make history beckons as they face India in Long Island, New York, this Wednesday. While this presents a significantly tougher test, perhaps even beyond the capabilities of these players, there’s no harm in holding out hope for another extraordinary feat.
If there’s a potential for a closely contested match between the USA and India in this Group A clash, it’s primarily due to the peculiar nature of the drop-in pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Throughout the six games played at this venue (prior to Canada vs Pakistan), the pitches have proven to be atypical for T20 cricket, characterized by slow and sluggish conditions or unpredictable variable bounce. Such surfaces have made it challenging for batters to dominate with boundaries, thus narrowing the gap between teams even further in a format already known for its tight margins.
India’s status as clear favorites shouldn’t be understated. Ever since their surprising group stage loss to Bangladesh in the 2007 ODI World Cup in the Caribbean, India has maintained a vigilant approach in major tournaments, avoiding complacency against lesser opponents. This mindset is likely to carry into their upcoming match.
India’s bowlers, buoyed by the favorable conditions, have been exceptional. Spearheaded by the remarkable Jasprit Bumrah, who earned the Player-of-the-Match accolade in both encounters, they dismantled Ireland for a mere 96 runs before defending a modest total of 119 against Pakistan. While the batting lineup has been tested by challenging pitches, the resurgence of Rishabh Pant has been a significant positive.
After a prolonged absence due to a harrowing road accident, Pant returned to the Indian squad with an impressive stint in the IPL with Delhi Capitals. Elevated to the No. 3 position for this tournament, Pant seamlessly adapted to his role during the warm-up match against Bangladesh, crafting a brisk 53 off 32 balls before retiring. His form has continued in the official matches, where he played a vital role in India’s successful chase against Ireland and was instrumental in the team’s respectable total against the formidable Shaheen Afridi-led Pakistani attack.
Pant’s aggressive innings, scoring 42 off just 31 balls, significantly contributed to India’s strong start, reaching 81/3 after 10 overs. Despite the subsequent collapse, with India losing their last seven wickets for a mere 30 runs, Pant’s early aggression provides reassurance to the batting unit ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Aside from the implications of the winning team securing their spot in the Super Eight stage, an intriguing subplot of this match revolves around the presence of eight Indian-origin players in the US squad. Among them stands left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, the hero of the Super Over triumph against Pakistan. Some Indian players, particularly those from Mumbai, may find a sense of familiarity with Netravalkar.
Before embarking on his career as a software engineer at Oracle in San Francisco, Netravalkar showcased his cricketing prowess as India’s leading wicket-taker in the 2010 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand. Additionally, he made a solitary appearance for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy against Karnataka in 2013, sharing the field with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul. However, acknowledging the fierce competition for spots in the Indian team, Netravalkar opted to pursue a master’s degree in Computer Science at Cornell University in 2015 on a scholarship. Cricket seemed to fade into the background until an opportunity to represent the US reignited his passion for the sport.
Within the US cricket squad, there are other players like Harmeet Singh, a former left-arm spinner from Mumbai, and Milind Kumar, a batter from Delhi, who have also experienced India’s domestic cricket circuit. The team’s captain, Monank Patel, was previously involved in Gujarat’s age-group system before relocating to settle in New Jersey.
For these players, the challenge on Wednesday extends beyond the cricket pitch—they must navigate the emotional aspect as well. Indeed, facing India in a World Cup match is a scenario they likely never imagined, just as they couldn’t have fathomed defeating Pakistan in such a prestigious tournament.
