Saurabh Netravalkar was born on 16 October 1991 in Mumbai, into a family that valued education and sport. His father and mother encouraged both his academic goals and his cricket dreams. From a young age, he played cricket in local tournaments and studied hard to match his goals.
He earned admission into Sardar Patel Institute of Technology for engineering. He then moved to the U.S. in 2015 to pursue a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Cornell University. His family’s support let him chase both engineering and cricket without compromise.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Saurabh Naresh Netravalkar |
| Date of Birth | 16 October 1991 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 33 years |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, India |
| Height | 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm) |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Left-arm fast-medium |
| Role | Pace bowler |
| ODI Debut | 27 April 2019 vs Papua New Guinea |
| T20I Debut | 15 March 2019 vs UAE |
| Main Teams | USA, Washington Freedom, Rangpur Riders |
| Best ODI Bowling | 5/32 |
| Best T20I Bowling | 5/12 |
| Wife | Devi Snighda Muppala |
| Known For | Balancing Oracle career and international cricket |
Physical Profile & Personality
Saurabh stands tall at 6 feet, giving him a good advantage in fast bowling. He relies on rhythm, swing, and accuracy rather than sheer speed. Off the field, he has a calm and disciplined personality. He works hard both in coding and in training sessions. He often speaks about staying humble, respectful, and consistent.
Cricket Start & Education Balance
Youth Career in India
He first gained attention in tournaments like the Cooch Behar Trophy, where he took many key wickets. He played for India in the Under‑19 World Cup in 2010 and emerged as India’s top wicket‑taker in that tournament, despite not getting a big break in senior domestic cricket.
Academic Priority & Move Abroad
Saurabh played a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai in 2013 but found chances limited amid fierce competition. He chose to focus on academics and moved to the US in 2015. His coding skills earned him a scholarship at Cornell and later a job at Oracle in San Francisco.
During this time, he also built CricDeCode—an app to help cricketers analyze their performance and improve. His early patent in wildcard search autocomplete showed his technical mind and creative thinking.
Rise in USA Cricket
Entry & Captaincy
Once in the U.S., he continued playing cricket and joined the USA cricket setup in 2017–18. By January 2018, he landed in the USA squad for regional tournaments. Later that year, he captained the side in the Super50 tournament and World Cricket League Division Three.
He made his T20I debut on 15 March 2019 and ODI debut on 27 April 2019. He also led the USA in both these formats at different points.
International Records
As of mid-2025, Saurabh has:
- Played over 63 ODIs, taken 100 wickets at an average near 21.9, with best figures of 5/32.
- Played over 41 T20Is, taken 40 wickets at around 22.9, with best bowling of 5/12.
Career Highlights & Turning Points
- In 2019, he became the first USA bowler to take an ODI five-wicket haul (5/32 against UAE).
- In 2022, he claimed the USA’s first T20I five-wicket haul.
- In the 2023 and 2024 Major League Cricket seasons, he became a leading domestic wicket-taker, topping bowling charts in the 2024 edition.
- His most famous moment came in the 2024 T20 World Cup: he defended 18 runs in the super over to help USA beat Pakistan, and later dismissed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the match against India.
Professional Tech Career
While shining on the cricket field, Saurabh works full-time at Oracle as a principal engineer on advanced database projects involving AI. He has filed at least one patent for a fast autocomplete algorithm, with another pending. His colleagues support his dual dedication, often allowing flexible work around his match commitments.
He has spoken about detaching from outcomes and following his passions—whether in cricket or in technology.
Personal Life & Interests
Saurabh is married to Devi Snighda Muppala. Though he keeps most of his personal life private, they are known to support each other in both technology and cricket realms.
He enjoys playing the ukulele, singing Marathi songs, and practicing yoga. He also stutters mildly in speech, but he openly acknowledges it in interviews and does not let it restrict him.
He mentors youth players, shares his tech-cricket combo story, and encourages young immigrant cricketers to dream big.
Controversies & Challenges
IPL 2025 Disappointment
He entered the 2025 IPL mega auction with hopes to play in India’s biggest league. Despite strong credentials, he went unsold. He was saddened but accepting, stating he would work harder and return stronger for future auctions.
Dual Role Pressure
Balancing a full-time tech career with international cricket demands discipline. In 2024, his LinkedIn profile went viral and fans jokingly called him the new standard for Indian parents—successful in both job and sport. Despite online praise, some warned against overhyping him and expecting perfection at all times.
Impact & Legacy
Saurabh represents a new face of cricket—one that blends professionalism, education, and sporting excellence. He has inspired many in the US and India to pursue sport while prioritizing academic and career goals.
His story helped shine a light on American cricket, leading youth in immigrant communities to take the sport seriously. Analysts continue to study how he manages time zones, flights, corporate projects, and international matches—all with calm efficiency.
Future Outlook
At 33, Saurabh still has years to contribute. He aims to lead the USA closer to global qualifications and hopefully feature in leagues like the IPL. Technically, he wants to innovate more—work on data analytics in sport, patent new tech ideas, and mentor future athlete-engineers.
He hopes to keep improving his bowling, adding more wicket hauls, and helping USA grow in stature internationally.
