Software Engineer Stars in Cricket Upset, Eyes Olympics

Saurabh Netravalkar, a software engineer, played a pivotal role in the U.S. cricket team's unprecedented victory over Pakistan during the 2024 T20 World Cup. This remarkable achievement has led to a documentary titled "The Long Game: Saurabh Netravalkar, Between Two Worlds," set to air this month. The film explores Netravalkar's unique path from leaving India to study in the U.S. in 2015, resuming his cricket career, and ultimately debuting for the U.S. in 2019 while working at Oracle.

Directed by Pierre Friquet, the documentary interweaves climactic match moments with key events from Netravalkar's life, using animation to recreate his memories and inner struggles. Netravalkar, who was moved to tears watching the film, embraces its raw portrayal of his experiences. He is now focused on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will make its return to the Games.

Although qualification formats are yet to be announced, Netravalkar is determined to stay fit and perform well to earn a spot. He believes his IT background, particularly analytical and algorithmic thinking skills, aids his performance in cricket, which he views as a mentally demanding sport at the elite level. He finds success by fully immersing himself in both his demanding professions.