Saurabh Netravalkar Stats, Career & The Super Over That Changed Everything

When Saurabh Netravalkar walks on the turf of Wankhede Stadium later this year, he won’t be donning India’s blue-colored jersey. He will be donning the red, white, and blue of the United States. The fact that the Mumbai boy would be back home as an opponent was a good enough cricket story in its own right. Netravalkar’s story is stranger and far more interesting than a mere national switch. He designs artificial intelligence systems at Oracle in Silicon Valley by day By night, he is USA Cricket’s talisman in swinging the new ball. In between those points, he’s bowled a Super Over to defeat Pakistan, dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck, and become the subject of an Oscar-winning producer’s documentary. Netravalkar, at 34 — his boyhood dream stadium almost within reach — is more than just a cricketer. As one example among many, he’s living proof that its place in the age-old American immigrant story still has a rightful chapter.

Player Profile

Why Saurabh Netravalkar Matters Right Now

When, in June 2024, a left-arm seamer with a day job at Oracle strode onto the ground. Netravalkar bowled a Super Over against Pakistan, remained composed, and delivered the USA one of the greatest ever cricket upsets.

In the USA vs India game, he one-upped himself a week later by bowling out Virat Kohli for a duck and Rohit Sharma for three. Within a week this 32-year-old software programmer was an instant social media celebrity.

Fast forward to 2026, where Netravalkar is now 34—bowling as precisely as ever—and gearing up for yet another ICC T20 World Cup campaign; only this time there is a documentary about his life debuting on Amazon Prime Video. He has gone from a niche story in the world of cricket to one that should be front-page news in the world of sport.

Early Life: Growing Up in Mumbai

He was born on 16 October 1991 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and raised in the suburb of Malad, where the game of cricket was like a religion. He was one of millions of Indian boys who dreamt of pulling on the blue and gold for Mumbai, the fiercest domestic team in India.

He did everything right. He was picked for the Mumbai Ranji Trophy side at the age of 17. He finished with 30 wickets in only six matches during the Cooch Behar Trophy of 2008–09. There was the 2010 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand, where Netravalkar topped India’s wicket charts.

But Mumbai cricket is unforgiving. At the time, when Netravalkar was on the verge of entering India senior team, his competitors were experienced members like Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan, along with an upcoming Dhawal Kulkarni. In October 2023, he played one first-class game—against Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in December 2013—and ten Vijay Hazare Trophy matches over the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons. Each game was a war for his position.

The Bigger Picture: Netravalkar’s early career illustrates the brutal depth of Indian domestic cricket. He did everything expected of a promising young seamer—yet still couldn’t secure a regular spot. This is not a story of failure. It’s a story of choosing a different path when the original one closed.

The Cornell Decision: Cricket Takes a Backseat

By 2015, the pressure had taken its toll. Netravalkar had already completed his Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in India. He made the difficult decision to put cricket aside and pursue a Master’s degree at Cornell University in the United States.

It was a classic immigrant story: leave behind a dream to build a more stable future. At Cornell, he earned a Master of Engineering in computer science. He played recreational cricket on the side, but the professional game felt like a distant memory.

After graduation, he joined Oracle in San Francisco as a software engineer—eventually rising to Principal Member of Technical Staff. He worked on artificial intelligence. The cricket career appeared to be over.

The USA Revival: From Recreation to International Cricket

But cricket had other plans. In 2018, Netravalkar was persuaded to give the game another shot—this time for the United States.

“I started playing for the USA in 2018. It was like a start-up where we were quite low in the rankings and then in 2020 we got ODI status.” — Saurabh Netravalkar

He made his List A debut for the USA in 2018. His T20I debut followed on March 15, 2019, against the UAE. Less than six weeks later, on April 27, 2019, he made his ODI debut against Papua New Guinea at Affies Park in Windhoek.

In December 2019, he produced his best ODI bowling figures: 5/32 against the United Arab Emirates. He also led the USA to ODI status in April 2019—a major milestone for a program that had long been on the fringes of international cricket.

The 2024 T20 World Cup: A Star Is Born

The 2024 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, was the turning point.

Against Pakistan in Dallas, Netravalkar was handed the ball for a Super Over. Pakistan needed 19 runs. He conceded a couple of wides but held his nerve, removed Iftikhar Ahmed, and secured one of the greatest upsets in cricket history.

Then came the India game. In front of a massive crowd, Netravalkar dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck and Rohit Sharma for three. The images went viral. Social media exploded. A software engineer had just dismissed two of the greatest batsmen in cricket history in the same match.

Stat Check: In that 2024 T20 World Cup, Netravalkar became the first USA bowler to dismiss both Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the same innings. The achievement catapulted him from relative obscurity to global recognition overnight.

2026: Life Comes Full Circle

Now, 20 months after that World Cup, Netravalkar is preparing to play at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai—the very ground he dreamed of as a boy.

“Personally, it feels like a full circle moment for me because I learned my cricket here. I grew up in Mumbai and getting an opportunity to play at Wankhede, which has been my dream since childhood. So nostalgic, emotional, good to see and I’m looking forward to my family, friends being there.” — Saurabh Netravalkar

His last T20I appearance was on February 15, 2026, against Namibia. His most recent ODI was on November 3, 2025, against the UAE. He continues to represent the USA across formats and remains a key figure in the country’s cricketing ambitions.

Washington Freedom and MLC 2026

In Major League Cricket (MLC), Netravalkar has been a retained domestic player for the Washington Freedom since 2023. He was among the nine domestic players retained for the 2026 season.

His 2026 MLC season has been impressive. Against the Los Angeles Knight Riders, he took 3/16 and was named Player of the Match. Against MI New York, he picked up 2/29 in a five-wicket victory. He also delivered a crucial 19th over in the playoff race, conceding just seven runs.

With a squad featuring Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Rachin Ravindra, Washington Freedom are aiming for their second MLC title in 2026. Netravalkar’s new-ball bowling has been central to their success.

Read More: Andries Gous: Profile, Stats & Record-Breaking Career

Career Statistics

ODI Career (as of 2026)

T20I Career (as of 2026)

What the Numbers Mean

Netravalkar’s ODI bowling average of 22.55 is exceptional—among the best for any USA bowler. His economy rate of 4.11 runs per over is elite, reflecting his ability to control runs even when wickets aren’t falling. In T20Is, his economy of 7.19 is respectable for a left-arm seamer who bowls in the powerplay and at the death.

What these numbers don’t capture is his role. Netravalkar is not a wicket-taker who gets smashed for runs. He is a control bowler—the kind who builds pressure, forces batsmen to take risks against others, and delivers in high-stakes moments. His Super Over against Pakistan wasn’t a fluke; it was a reflection of his temperament and precision.

Contract and Salary

Saurabh Netravalkar’s primary income comes from his role at Oracle, where he works as a principal software engineer. His cricket earnings supplement this.

What This Means: Netravalkar is not a professional cricketer who dabbles in tech. He is a tech professional who plays international cricket. His cricket earnings, while significant, are secondary to his Oracle salary. This dual-career model is unusual in international cricket, where most players rely entirely on match fees and contracts. Netravalkar’s situation reflects the realities of USA Cricket—a program still building its professional infrastructure.

Personal Life: The Tech Power Couple

Netravalkar is married to Devi Snigdha Muppala, a fellow Cornell University graduate and Oracle Principal Engineer. The couple married in January 2020 in a ceremony that combined South Indian and Maharashtrian traditions.

Like her husband, Snigdha holds a master’s degree in engineering and computer science from Cornell. She also runs a BollyX dance-fitness program in the San Francisco Bay Area. The couple has a young daughter.

Editorial Insight: Netravalkar’s marriage is not just a personal detail—it’s a window into his identity. He and his wife represent a new kind of cricketer: highly educated, professionally accomplished, and able to balance elite sport with demanding careers. This is the future of USA Cricket.

‘The Long Game’: The Documentary

In June 2026, Willow TV and Amazon Prime Video released “The Long Game: Saurabh Netravalkar, Between Two Worlds,” a feature-length documentary about his life.

Directed by Adam Leipzig, the two-time Academy Award-winning producer of March of the Penguins, the film chronicles Netravalkar’s journey from Mumbai hopeful to Silicon Valley engineer to USA Cricket star.

The documentary premiered on Willow TV on June 17, 2026, and on Amazon Prime Video on June 18. It uses animation to reimagine his childhood, interviews his family and coaches, and explores the “sacrifices, opportunities, and decisions that shaped his path.”

The Wall Street Journal called it “an education in cricket”—an accessible entry point for viewers unfamiliar with the sport.

Why It Matters: A documentary from an Oscar-winning producer is not something that happens to most cricketers. Netravalkar’s story has transcended sport. He has become a symbol of the Indian-American immigrant experience, the pursuit of multiple passions, and the unexpected ways life can come full circle.

What Makes Netravalkar Different

His dual career is the obvious answer. But the more interesting difference is how he carries it.

Netravalkar doesn’t complain about the grind of balancing Oracle and international cricket. He doesn’t frame his tech job as a sacrifice. In interviews, he comes across as thoughtful, grounded, and disarmingly honest.

On the field, his left-arm fast-medium bowling is deceptively simple. He’s tall—6 feet—and uses his height to extract a bounce. He doesn’t have extreme pace, but he moves the ball both ways and hits the right lengths consistently. In T20Is, he typically bowls the first two overs of the powerplay and a third in the death. That’s a high-pressure role, and he excels at it.

What casual fans overlook: His bowling average of 22.55 in ODIs is better than many established international bowlers. He’s not just a “good USA bowler.” He’s a genuinely good international bowler, period.

Recent Form and What Comes Next

Netravalkar’s 2026 season has been solid. In ODIs, he has taken wickets against Canada, the Netherlands, Nepal, and Scotland. In MLC, he has been one of Washington Freedom’s most reliable bowlers.

At 34, he is not young by cricketing standards. But left-arm seamers often age well, and his bowling style—based on control and movement rather than sheer pace—should serve him well into his late 30s.

What to watch: The 2026 T20 World Cup. Netravalkar will be 34, playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, in front of family and friends. It’s the kind of story that scriptwriters would reject as too neat. But for Netravalkar, it’s real.

Frequently Asked Questions

Featured Snippet Answers

Who is Saurabh Netravalkar?
Saurabh Netravalkar is a USA cricketer and Oracle software engineer. Born in Mumbai in 1991, he played for India U19 before moving to the US for graduate studies. He made his USA debut in 2019 and became famous for bowling a Super Over against Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

How old is Saurabh Netravalkar?
Saurabh Netravalkar was born on October 16, 1991, making him 34 years old as of 2026.

What team does Saurabh Netravalkar play for?
He plays for the United States national cricket team and Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket (MLC).

What are Saurabh Netravalkar’s bowling stats?
In 74 ODIs, he has 116 wickets at an average of 22.55, with best figures of 5/32. In 44 T20Is, he has 42 wickets at 24.98.

What is Saurabh Netravalkar’s net worth?
Public estimates place his net worth between $1 million and $2 million, combining his Oracle salary and cricket earnings.