Gujarat-born captain, former Mumbai pacer, Barbadian flair and the Canadian touch: Stars behind USA’s T20 World Cup win over Pakistan

Since receiving formal T20I status alongside all other Associate Nations from January 1, 2019, the United States men’s cricket team has played 30 matches and won 19 of them.

Two memorable wins were born last month in the bid to their maiden T20 World Cup when they trumped Bangladesh 2-1 in the preparatory bilateral tie at home. Despite having no prior experience at the World Cup stage, the co-hosts of the ninth T20 World Cup opened the tournament with a sensational 194-run chase against Canada in Dallas – the third highest ever in the T20 World Cup.

Come Thursday, in their first major challenge of this edition, the United States handed a massive jolt to Pakistan, the 2009 champion and finalists of the previous edition, with a pulsating Super Over win. It was the second Super Over of the current edition and only the fifth tie ever in the World Cups. Pakistan have now been at the receiving end of two losses in T20 World Cup ties, having lost in the first such instance against India in 2007 where a bowl-out was used as the tie-breaker.

Thursday’s loss, however, has put Pakistan in a state of uncertainty with tougher games against India and Ireland to follow in Group A. Meanwhile, the United States find themselves at an unprecedented high at the top of the group with two wins for now.

Multi-cultural coalesce

The clinical win with performances across batting, bowling and fielding departments was orchestrated by a group of multi-cultural and multi-continental cricketers who have found a fresh run in international cricket with the United States.

Corey Anderson, a former ODI World Cup runner-up with New Zealand in 2015, is easily the most recognised figure from the US side in the cricketing landscape. But here is a closer look at some of the other architects of the famous win over Pakistan in their first-ever meeting in Dallas:

Monank Patel

Born in the ‘Milk Capital of India’ in Anand, Gujarat, Monank laboured dreams of representing USA, migrating to the country after having represented his Indian state at the age-group levels.

The 31-year-old has represented US across various qualifying tournaments in one-dayers and T20Is consistently since 2018 before emerging as a leader of the side over the last three years. Monank has followed in the footsteps of accomplished internationals in Jos Buttler and Quinton de Kock with the distinction of being a prominent wicket-keeper-captain that opens the batting.

He displayed his wares against a solid Pakistan attack on Thursday when he steered a 160-run chase with a 38-ball half-century laced with seven fours and a six.

Saurabh Netravalkar

A lanky left-arm seamer, Mumbai-born Netravalkar was India’s highest wicket-taker at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup. His efforts with the ball were not enough then to see off Pakistan in the quarterfinals but Netravalkar may have somewhat come to terms with that memory last night when he pinned Pakistan in the regulation match and the Super Over.

Netravalkar drew first blood for US with the scalp of Mohammad Rizwan before returning at the death to dismiss Iftikhar Ahmed and finished his four-over quota with figures of 2/19. After the batters ransacked 18 runs in the Super Over later, Netravalkar displayed his finesse with the ball to secure a historic win. A technical staff member with American tech giants Oracle since 2016, Netravalkar who previous represented Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, debuted for US in 2019. He has picked up 73 ODI and 29 T20I wickets for the side in 77 appearances.

What an effort from Saurabh Netravalkar! From representing India U-19 in 2010, working as a techie in America, going on to represent USA in the #T20WorldCup and bowling a match-winning Super Over to clinch a historic win vs Pakistan!

Just wow. pic.twitter.com/foSi7BQlLe

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) June 6, 2024

Nosthush Kenjige

Featuring in his first game of the T20 World Cup, left-arm spinner Kenjige constricted the Pakistan middle-order with three crucial scalps (3/30) on Thursday. The 33-year-old, born in the southeastern US state of Alabama moved back to his Indian roots along with his family in 1992. Kenjige completed his schooling and college in Karnataka where he featured in cricket at the university level. He returned to US in 2015 and broke into the national side three years later.

Andries Gous

Within two months and eight innings of his T20I debut, Andries Gous has struck three match-winning fifties while being a part of four famous wins. Having played a crucial role in US’ opening win over Canada in the tournament, the South African-born batter recorded a firm cameo (35 off 26) batting at no. 3 against Pakistan. The 30-year-old is a South African First-Class veteran who represented Free State between 2011-2020. Though he took up a three-year contract with the US in 2021, Gous had to nearly wait through the entire period to make his debut and make it count.

Nitish Kumar

The Nitish Kumar wave is criss-crossing continents and countries. Born to Indian-origin parents in Ontario, Canada, Nitish made headlines during the 2011 ODI World Cup as the youngest (16 years, 283 days) to ever feature in the tournament. Nitish made his T20I debut in 2012 and represented the country in 18 T20Is up until 2019. However, a harsh COVID-19 phase in Canada, prompted Nitish to cross over to the United States and continue his cricketing journey. A handy lower-order bat and off-spin bowler, Nitish remained in his element when US required five runs off the final delivery. He then pumped a low full-toss from Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf over mid-off for a four that levelled the scores and registered the Super Over.

Steven Taylor

One of America’s leading homebred cricketing talents, Steven Taylor could not light up Dallas with the bat but was crucial in handing US the early lead over Pakistan with a superb catch. Diving full-stretch to his right, Taylor caught opener Rizwan out of thin air, bringing cricket fans memories of a 2007 World Cup catch by Bermuda’s Dwayne Leverock in a famous clash against India.

What a grab at slip! 👏

Great reactions from the USA's Steven Taylor to get Pakistan opener Rizwan early doors.#BBCCricket #USAvPAK #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/XjWpNKwI4N

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 6, 2024

Aaron Jones

After a sparkling 94 in the previous outing against Canada, Aaron Jones has emerged as a batting superstar for the US with another stellar knock under pressure. Born in Queens, New York to Barbadian parents, Jones spent his early days honing his craft in the Caribbean. Jones’ unbeaten 36 with two fours and as many sixes helped US into the Super Over. The 29-year-old then made 11 of his side’s 18 runs to ensure a second successive win.

Also shining in the win are former India U19 all-rounder Harmeet Singh, Punjab-born seamer Jasdeep Singh and Pakistan-born seamer Ali Khan.

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