5 India-born cricketers who are now a part of the USA cricket team
The USA cricket team has tried to strengthen its core by recruiting foreign players. Several India-born cricketers have joined the USA cricket circuit now. Meanwhile, big names like Dane Piedt, Rusty Theron, Corey Anderson, and Sami Aslam have left their nations to make a cricketing career in the USA.
The USA cricket team has the potential to become a strong team in the coming years. USA Cricket has also decided to launch its own franchise league, where IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders have made an investment. The USA team has been playing ODI and T20I matches regularly.
Here's a look at those five India-born cricketers who are now a part of the USA Cricket team.
5. One of the most famous India-born cricketers playing for USA - Sunny Sohal
When Cricket is Ur passion nothing can stop u from it.
— Amal Sudhakaran🏏 (@amal_sachinism) February 29, 2020
Indian domestic cricketers who went on to play for other countries
1)Sunny Sohal,former 🇮🇳 under19 &IPL player is now playing for USA🇺🇸 national team.
2)Krishnan Karate,former Kerala Ranji player played for UAE🇦🇪 in 2015WC. pic.twitter.com/rUpB6CPGT7
Sunny Sohal is a former Punjab cricketer who has represented multiple franchises in the IPL. He started his IPL journey with the Punjab Kings and afterwards, he played for the Deccan Chargers. The Royal Challengers Bangalore opted for his services in the 2013 season. However, RCB did not give him a single game.
Sohal made a name for himself with his half-century against the Chennai Super Kings while donning the Deccan Chargers jersey in 2011. However, Sohal is now a part of the USA team and he has played three T20Is for them.
4. One of the few India-born cricketers to have played ODI and T20I for USA - Timil Patel
World famous Cricket player, Timil Patel, now a proud #newUScitizen! pic.twitter.com/PDYM26IaBO
— USCIS Media - Western Region (@USCISMediaWest) April 18, 2017
Another India-born cricketer who has represented the USA team at the international level is Timil Patel. Timil was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
He is a right-handed batsman and a legbreak bowler who has represented India at the U-19 level. Patel has played seven ODIs and seven T20Is for the USA team so far.
3. Nisarg Patel
Another Ahmedabad-based cricketer who is now representing the USA cricket team is Nisarg Patel. Nisarg is a right-handed batsman, who can also bowl left-arm spin.
Patel played his first international match for the USA cricket team in August 2019. The left-arm spinner has taken seven wickets in eight ODIs, while he has a highest score of 52 for the USA team.
2. Karan Viradiya
Karan Viradiya is yet another Gujarat-based player to appear on this list. The Surat-born cricketer had played U-19 cricket for the Indian team. However, he was found guilty of age fraud in 2013.
Viradiya has now moved to the USA cricket team and resumed his cricketing activities there. Karan was recently named in the USA squad for the pre-season training camp.
1. Saurabh Netravalkar
On his 29th birthday, let us talk about a former India Under-19 cricketer, now an international captain.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@SachinAzharCT) (@ovshake42) October 16, 2020
A left-arm quick, Mumbai-born Saurabh Netravalkar was India's best bowler in the 20009 World Cup (9 wickets at 17.22, economy 3.11).
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Mumbai-born fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar played for the India U-19 team at one time. He even played domestic cricket for the Mumbai squad.
Netravalkar has shifted to America now, where he plays international cricket for USA. His best bowling figures in ODI cricket are 5/32, which highlights that he could become a star player for the USA team in the future. Saurabh has played 13 ODIs and eight T20Is in his brief career. It is pertinent to note that Netravalkar has also been a part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team in the Caribbean Premier League.