Left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, a key player for the USA cricket team, expressed his feelings after going unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The Indian-origin cricketer, who balances his role as a software engineer with his cricketing career, had set his base price at ₹30 lakh but failed to attract any bids despite being shortlisted in the final player list. Reflecting on the experience, Netravalkar admitted that while the “child in him” had hopes, he understood the stiff competition in the auction.
“I’m grateful to have been shortlisted in the final auction list. Yes, the child in me had hopes for sure! But with such a high-quality player pool and so many top players also missing out, I completely understand,” Netravalkar told Times of India. Notably, he had played alongside KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal for India U-19 in 2010 before moving to the United States for his master’s degree at an Ivy League university.
Saurabh’s Journey to Prominence
Netravalkar gained widespread attention during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in some of the tournament’s most memorable moments. The left-arm pacer starred in a thrilling Super Over that saw the USA pull off a stunning upset against former champions Pakistan. He also impressed by dismissing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in a nail-biting game against India, helping the USA advance to the next stage of the competition.
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Optimistic About the Future
Despite the disappointment of missing out on an IPL contract, Netravalkar remains optimistic and is determined to return stronger. “I’m really looking forward to watching the IPL season, which I’m sure will showcase the highest quality cricket. Personally, I’ll keep working harder to improve and hopefully come back stronger next year,” he added.
Netravalkar’s journey from India’s U-19 squad to representing the USA on the world stage continues to inspire fans, and his positive attitude has left many hopeful about his future in cricket.